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 now, that we may the better be wakened and receive this exhortation unfeignedly: let us not deceive our selves any more with the opinions that every of us may conceive in our own head, nor yet with the judgment of men, which ofttimes do praise and commend the thing that is nothing worth. Verily we know how our Lord Jesus Christ sayeth in Saint Luke,¹ that the thing which is high and excellent afore men, is utterly loathsome before God. Too the intent therefore that we may no more be deceived by them, let us understand, that until God have made us new creatures, and begotten us again by his holy spirit, we be blind in our understanding, we have nothing in us but vanity, and we be utterly ignorant, yea and stark beasts. That is in effect the thing that we have too bear in mind. Wherefore as oft as we fall too our accustomed bias, and follow our own fancy, let us learn too city our selves before God, and too weigh well what is meant by the life that he reserveth as peculiar too himself. Not that it serveth for none other but himself, but because he bestoweth it upon none but his own children. For thereby it is that he showeth himself to have chosen us, as we have seen in the first chapter.

And now, that wee may the beteer bee wakened and receyue this exhortation vnfeynedly: let vs not deceyue our selues any more with the opinions that euery of vs may conceyue in our owne head, nor yit with the iudgment of men, which oftymes doo prayse and commend the thing that is nothing woorth. Uerilye wee knowe how our Lord Iesus Christ sayeth in Saint Luke,¹ that the thing which is hygh and excellent afore men, is vtterly lothsome before God. Too the intent therefore that wee may no more bee deceyued by them, let vs vnderstand, that vntyll God haue made vs new creatures, and begotten vs agein by his holye spirit, wee bee blynd in our vnderstanding, wee haue nothing in vs but vanitie, and wee bee vtterly ignorant, yea and starke beastes. That is in effect the thing that wee haue too beare in mynd. Wherfore as oft as wee fall too our accustomed byase, and followe our owne fancie, let vs learne too cyte our selues beefore God, and too wey wel what is ment by the lyfe that he reserueth as peculiar too himself. Not that it serueth for none other but himself, but bycause he bestoweth it vppon none but his owne children. For therby it is that he sheweth himself to haue chozen vs, as wee haue seene in the first chapter.