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 the end this doctrine might not seem more than needeth: Saint Paul putteth the Ephesians in mind what they had bin. For we know that men are not willing too be rebuked, that is too say, they be loth too abide it, and would rather be spared: insomuch that when any warning is given them, they could find in their hart too put it far from them. On the other side we be so newfangled, that if a man tickle us not in the ear with some new thing, we do as it were despise and disdain it. As for an example, if a man speak too us of walking in the fear of God: who knows not that, say we? Let him go preach that too little children, will many a man say. And ⟨image 228⟩why? Because it seems too them too be but lost time too speak of things that are so well known too them. But doth it therefore follow that they be familiar and in use with them? (No:) for as for them that say, do not we know well enough that God must be loved, honoured, and served, that we must abstain from Theft, Extortion, Lying, Deceit, Blasphemy, Whoredom, and all other such things: are they not the greatest despisers of God and of all right dealing? Yes: but let us hearken what Saint Paul telleth us here. Go too (sayeth he) I exhort you too put of the old man. If ye say you have it not: aduyze your selves well, and consider what you were at the time that God drew you too the knowledge of his Gospel: that is too wit, that ye were as folk lost and utterly forlorn. So then, assure your selves it is not for naught that I exhort you too rid away the old man: for ye be not quite stripped out of him as yet. It was as a double garment about you before, and therefore ye must be fain too labour the earnestlyer as now too lay away the residue that remaineth of it still.

Now too the ende this doctrine myght not seeme more than needeth: Saint Paul putteth the Ephesians in mynd what they had bin. For wee knowe that men are not willing too bee rebuked, that is too say, they bee loth too abyde it, and would rather bee spared: insomuch that when any warning is giuen them, they coulde fynde in their hart too put it farre from them. On the other syde wee bee so newfangled, that if a man tickle vs not in the eare with some new thing, wee doo as it were despyze and disdeyne it. As for an example, if a man speake too vs of walking in the feare of God: who knowes not that, say wee? Let him go preache that too little children, will many a man say. And ⟨image 228⟩