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…

Now too express this yet better, Saint Paul sayeth, that they had their understanding darkened, and were strangers too the life of God: wherein he cutteth of the occasion of all excuses that men can make. For they will reply continually against God, and though they be condemned, yet will they always have the last word, (saying:) what can I do with it if there be nothing but vanity in me, seeing that God created me so? why made he me not otherwise? But Saint Paul telleth us here, that we have our understanding overcast with our own darkness. And why? Because the light is quenched by the corruption that is come upon us in Adam. To be short, S. Paul showeth us here, that we must keep our mouths shut, when the scripture bewrayeth that we be both ignorant, blind, and brutish. We must not think to further our case by alleging that god ought to ⟨p. 202⟩have made us otherwise: for the evil proceedeth of Adams fall, because not only he was bereft of the good that he had received, but all we also were impoverished in him. And like as he that for feyteth his goods, must beg and his children to, so must we also also in our penury and poverty consider still at this day, the misfortune that is come upon us through the fault and offence of our first father. Thus ye see how Saint Paul hath here disappointed all starting holes, that men are wont too set afore them, too show themselves too be righteous and innocent before God. For whence cometh the vanity of our mind in that we be both blind and ignorant? Even of our being in darkness, and by darkening of the light that God had put into us in our first creation. And forasmuch as this is a hard matter too brook, S. Paul bringeth us too the life of God: and that is too laugh too scorn all the trifling imaginations that men have contrived too maintain their own Freewill, Reason, and Discretion. For (as I have said already) the books of the Philosophers are full of such stuff. In the Popedom there is bickering still at this day for Freewill, as though all were marred, if man had not some good selfmoving and ability too prepare himself too receive grace, and were made fellow with God, and could make the grace effectual which is offered him.

Now too expresse this yit better, Saint Paule sayeth, that they had their vnderstanding darkened, and vvere straungers too the lyfe of God: wherin he cutteth of the occasion of all excuses that men can make. For they will replye continually ageinst God, and though they bee condemned, yit will they alwayes haue the last woord, (saying:) what can I doo with it if there bee nothing but vanitie in mee, seeing that God created mee so? why made he mee not otherwise? But Saint Paule telleth vs heere, that wee haue our vnderstanding ouercast with our owne darknesse. And why? Bycause the lyght is quenched by the corruptiō that is come vpon vs in Adam. To be short, S. Paul sheweth vs here, that we must keepe our mouthes shet, when the scripture bewrayeth that we bee both ignorant, blynd, and brutish. We must not think to further our cace by alledging that god ought to