The sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle of S. Paul too the…The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the…

In the same taking are we▪ and all cometh too his point, too show us that we have great need too be well fenced. For when we be out of fear, every of us falls too revealing, we take no care, we keep no watch. But if there be war, so as we be threatened: then (we think) it behoves us too keep good watch, & we stand upon our guard. If we doubt of any afterclaps, then we bethink our selves, least we be taken napping. Saint Paul therefore telleth us here, that there will be nothing but cozening, and that we shall fall into Satan's snares every minute of an hour, if we watch not warily. And why? For among whom are we conversant? What a sort of Cozeners are there in the world? There will ever be lewd company which shall seek the overthrow of our faith: there will ever be scoffers, heathenish folk, and other makebates, which would fain have all things go too ha••cke, yea and which will endeavour too shed their poisons and heresies abroad, too corrupt and infect men withal. Too be short, the devil hath a thousand ways too deceive us, and men also are ready enough unto it, and there are maintainers enow which will offer themselves, and desire no better living, as they say. For this cause Saint Paul showeth us, that if we labour not stoutly too profit in Gods word, we shall surely be caught and carried away at every hand, and fleet too and fro, and be led by the bill, and run about like little children, so as we shall have no discretion at all. Then if we be not well advised, even they that are the forwardest of us, shall stumble, and within a step or two break our necks, notwithstanding that we seem too be well entered on our way alr••y•. And it is not here only that the scripture telleth us, we must not be as little babes in understanding. We see that the people of the Jews also were•vpbrayded with it, insomuch that Isaiah telleth them, that they be but as little children always at their Apcie,¹ and that they must always be rapped upon the pates, because they continue still in their brutishness. When a man hath cried out too them a hundr•• and hundred times A.B.C. by and by they forget it, and are […] new too begin. Thus complaineth he of them. And again, too […] them ashamed, How pro••t you (sayeth he) specially in Gods doctrine? There ye make as though ye were little children, & play the […].