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…

So then let us note, that until God have visited us, and is come unto us, and hath subdued us unto him: we shall always continue ignorant and blind wretches, there shall be nothing but va••tie in all our understanding, in our hearts there shall be nothing but pride and presumption, and our lusts shall be so far out of square, that they shall strive against God, and we shall fight against his Justice, and against all right. And surely we see what hath followed of it, when men would needs govern them selves by their own wit. For what fashions of serving God have bin brought •ntoo the world, and how wicked? Wanted there any great cunning, or any great skill? No: for we see that God hath […] out this gracious gifts in such wise, as mans wit hath showed it self right excellent in all manner […] ⟨image 220⟩sciences and knowledges, saving in the chief: that is too wit, of coming unto God. In this all have failed, they have all wandered away, and there was nothing but falsehood and deceit in their case. And the further they endeavoured too thrust themselves forward, so much the deeper did they plunge them selves into the mire. Wherefore let us note, that although the light shine (as it is said in the first chapter of saint John:) yet notwithstanding we being darkness, conceive it not. Saint John showeth, that even from the beginning God separated men from beasts, imprinting his image in them, and giving them discretion too discern between good and evil. The life of man then serves not only too eat and drink, but also too consider that we have a better life, and that is, too have some order and common policy here beneath, and too understand that there is a God which ruleth all.

So then let vs note, that vntill God haue visited vs, and is come vntoo vs, and hath subdewed vs vntoo him: wee shall alwayes continue ignorant and blynde wretches, there shalbe nothing but va••tie in all our vnderstandyng, in our hartes there shal be nothyng but pride and presumption, and our lustes shall bee so farre out of square, that they shall stryue ageinst God, and wee shall fyght ageynst his Iustice, and ageynst all right. And surely wee see what hath folowed of it, when men would needes gouerne them selues by t•eir owne wyt. For what fashions of seruyng God haue byn brought •ntoo the world, and howe wicked? Wanted there any great cunnyng, or any great skyll? No: for wee see that God hath out this gracious gyftes in suche wise, as mans wyt hath showed it selfe right excellent in all maner