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…

And so the wisdom of the world will not •uffer us too come too the heavenly light: for it is a special gift of God, and not too be found in our selves. Ye see then that even the greatest men of skill deceived themselves: and that is the cause that men fall asleep in this fond opinion whereto they were to much inclined afore. Yea and we see that this foolish or rather devilish overweening hath gotten place even among the Jews, insomuch that they have always bin of opinion, (as men are now adays in the popedom) that they have freewill. True it is that the Papists will grant more than the heathen folk, namely that we be corrupted by original sin, howbeit their meaning is, that notwithstanding the infirmity which is in man, yet there abideth some remnant of goodness in him, ⟨image 219⟩insomuch that we half an understanding still, and also […] will that is able to train us unto good, though it be but weak of it self. Too be short, such as will needs judge according too their natural understanding, say, that men are as sound & uncorrupted, as Angels. The Papists being convicted by so many records of the Scripture, will grant well enough, that we be fal•e from our original, and that there are many vices in us: but yet is that no let (say they) but that we be still half clean, and are able to do good of our own power, when we be once humbled before God. To be short, they make such a partnership between God and men, that they say in deed, that we have need too be enlightened from above, too attain too faith: but yet that we have some light in our selves, and God maketh up that which wanteth. Again, they will say, that lust doth so reign in us, as it is right hard for us too submit our selves too God, but yet that we must labour too do it, and are able too do it, so that God aid us and reach us his hand. This is the Concurrence (as they term it) (that is too say, the matching or marrowing together) of Gods grace, and of the goodness that remaineth in man, though we be corrupted. But (as I said) let us rather hearken too that which God himself, even he which only is the competent Judge hath spoken of it by unrepealable sentence, which is, that all they which follow common reason, and the things that man hath of him self, are blind wretches. And what shall then become of Reason?

And so the wisedome of the world will not •uffer vs too come too the heauenly lyght: for it is a speciall gifte of God, and not too bee found in our selues. Yee see then that euen the greatest men of skyll deceyued themselues: and that is the cause that men fall asleepe in this fond opinion wherto they were to much inclyned afore. Yea and we see that this foolish or rather diuelish ouerweening hath gottē place euen among the Iewes, insomuch that they haue alwayes bin of opinion, (as men are now adayes in the popedome) that they haue freewill. Trew it is that the Papistes will graunt more than the heathen folke, namely that wee be corrupted by original sin, howbeeit their meaning is, that notwithstanding the infirmitye which is in man, yit there abydeth some remnant of goodnesse in him,