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…

Considering how corrupt we be by nature, it is not enough for us too have •he good showed unto us, unless the uy••s that are rooted in us, be also corrected: like as it would smally boot too sow (corn) in a ground that were overgrown with nettles, shrewd weeds, rushes, and thorns. And therefore notwithstanding that Saint Paul have heretofore showed the true rule of godly life: yet he addeth (as need is) that it standeth every man on hand too bethink himself, too change quite and clean, and too become a new man, because that until God have cleansed us both in mind and ha••, and in all parts of our soul, there will never be any thing but tilthinesse. So then, the doctrine that we have herd heretofore should not boot us, if that which we hear now presently had not bin added. For we• know that the Ephesians too whom Saint Paul speaketh, before they were converted too the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, had lived a certain time in ignorance, and bin given too all naughtiness and lewd life, even too the uttermost. Yet notwithstanding, Saint Paul setteth it down here in general, that all they which have not bin •aught in Gods school, are blind wretches, unable too discern between good and evil, yea and sta•ke beasts, insomuch that even with ⟨p. 198⟩the very root that cometh with them from their mothers womb, every man hardeneth more and more, till they fall into such excess, that they become as monsters, and appear no more too be creatures fashioned after the image of God. Ye see then that in effect Saint Pauls intent is, that after he hath declared Gods stablishing of his government over us: Now too the end that our walking in this world should be too go unto God, and too the heavenly life, whereunto he calleth us: he showeth that we shall never obey him, nor bow our neck too receive his yoke, until we have changed both our disposition and mind, and forsaken our selves, by cause we be utterly corrupted.

COnsidering howe corrupt wee bee by nature, it is not ynough for vs too haue •he good shewed vntoo vs, vnlesse the vy••s that are rooted in vs, bee also corrected: lyke as it woulde smally boote too sowe (corne) in a ground that were ouergrowen with nettles, shrewd weedes, rushes, and thornes. And therefore notwithstanding that Saint Paule haue heretofore shewed the trew rule of godly lyfe: yit he addeth (as neede is) that it standeth euery man on hand too bethinke himselfe, too chaunge quyte and cleane, and too become a newe man, bycause that vntill God haue clenzed vs both in mynde and ha, and in all partes of our soule, there will neuer bee any thing but tilthinesse. So then, the doctrine that wee haue herd heretoofore should not boote vs, if that which wee heare now presently had not bin added. For we knowe that the Ephesians too whom Saint Paule speaketh, before they were conuerted too the fayth of our Lord Iesus Christ, had liued a certeine tyme in ignorance, and bin giuen too all naughtinesse and leaud lyfe, euen too the vttermost. Yit notwithstanding, Saint Paul setteth it downe heere in generall, that all they which haue not bin aught in Gods schoole, are blynd wretches, vnable too discrene betweene good and euill, yea and stake beastes, insomuch that euen with