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 hereupon he setteth down immediately the hardness of their hart: not a single hardness, after the manner as we take hardness: for the (greek word betokeneth a thickenednesse (or muddiness) as when a piece of wine that was very well fined, is so troubled, as it becometh all Lees, and groweth thick (and muddy like a puddle,) so as there is no more clear liquor in it. Even so Saint Paul sayeth that the hart is thickened, when it is so blinded and hardened by that mean, as it cannot yield too the obeying of God, and that then there is no clearness in it, but all is troubled like a puddle. And this word Hart, doth in the holy Scripture betoken now and then, all the lusts, likings, and will of man: and sometimes also his understanding. But forasmuch as here Saint Paul hath put a difference between a mans understanding, and his mind, and his Hart: we may well think that he meant too add the will, together with all the scannings and debatings which we make (in our selves) about the judging of good and evil: and finally the whole understanding which we have, and the reason that reigneth in us. Saint Paul therefore meant in effect too show, that man is so corrupted in all parts of him through the sin of Adam, as there is neither wit nor will, but it tendeth wholly unto ⟨image 222⟩evil, and is utterly sopped in it. And therefore like as erst he condemned the beastliness that is in us: so now also he showeth that we• be as blocks, and cannot be quiet too follow our God whither soever he calleth us, but that we be stubborn, and have stiff necks which cannot bow, as Moses also upbraideth those that rebelled against God, (telling them) that they had a neck of iron or brass. And even such are we too of nature. And for that cause is it said in Ezekiel,¹ that God will change the hearts of them whom he will have saved, so that whereas they were stony before, he will make them fleshy. This similitude showeth well, what is in us till God have wrought an alteration in us. For we have nothing but hardness: which is as much as if the holy Ghost should say, that we be Gods enemies, and refusers of all truth, until God have softened us, and corrected the crabbedness and stubbornness, wherethrough w•e cast up our rage in such wise against God.

Now heerupon he setteth downe immediatly the hardnesse of their hart: not a single hardnesse, after the maner as wee take hardnesse: for the (greeke word betokeneth a thickenednesse (or muddinesse) as when a peece of wyne that was very well fyned, is so trubbled, as it becommeth all Lees, and groweth thicke (and muddie lyke a puddle,) so as there is no more cleere licour in it. Euen so Saynt Paule sayeth that the hart is thickened, when it is so blynded and hardened by that meane, as it cannot yeeld too the obeying of God, and that then there is no cleerenesse in it, but all is trubbled lyke a puddle. And this word Hart, doth in the holy Scripture betoken now and then, all the lustes, lykings, and will of man: and sometymes also his vnderstanding. But for asmuch as heere Saint Paule hath put a difference betweene a mans vnderstanding, and his mynd, and his Hart: we may wel think that he ment too adde the will, togither with all the scannings and debatings which wee make (in our selues) about the iudging of good and euill: and finally the whole vnderstanding which wee haue, and the reason that reigneth in vs. Saynt Paule therfore ment in effect too shewe, that man is so corrupted in all partes of him through the sinne of Adam, as there is nother wit nor wil, but it tendeth wholy vntoo