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…

Saint Paul showeth us by the example of the heathen men and unbelievers, how wretched mans life is, when he suffereth himself too be led by his own affections and lusts. For we be so blinded by the sin of Adam, that we discern not between good and evil, Howbeit that is not perceived at the first blush: but if ye look into the whole course of mans life, ye shall find, that they hold not any certain way, but that they wander too and fro, and in the end become stark beasts, so as they have no hart grief nor scruple of conscience at all. ⟨image 224⟩Now he showeth what diversity there ought too be betwixt the lyf• of Christians that have bin •ray•ed in the Gospel, and the life of the ignorant and blind wretches, which never wist what God or his will is. That is the cause why he addeth, that we ought too keep a far other trade, we (I say) that are trained up in Jesus Christ. As if he said, that such as have not the light of God, stray here and there, and no marvel though they do so, for they be blind, and wander in darkness. But seeing that God hath enlightened us, and we have Jesus Christ the daysonne of righteousness shining upon us: what a shame is it if we be mingled with those that have no direction at all? Then is there no excuse for us, if we will allege the heathen. For so little can their example serve too lessen our sin, that it shall double our condemnation. And why? God setteth them before our eyes as looking glasses, wherein too behold what we our selves and what our nature is, of all the while that we be ungoverned of the holy Ghost. On the contrary part we have our Lord Jesus Christ too show us the way of life. And it is not for nought that he hath said, that he is the light of the world,¹ and that whosoever walketh in him, cannot stray:² and again, that he is also the way, wherein a man cannot go amiss. That then is the cause in effect, why Saint Paul addeth, that it is not so with us, for we have learned Jesus Christ. And how? Ye have herd him, layeth he. And his setting down a those words, is of purpose too cut of all occasion of making of shrouding sheet of ignorance. For men are loth too be counted fools, except it be when they should come too accounting with God.