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…

Hereby he showeth us, that it is for us too inure our selves to patience all our life long. Although then that we have already struggled greatly too thrust all our affections, all our lusts, and all our likings under foot: yet shall we never have so overmastered our selves, ⟨p. 211⟩that we shall be throughly reformed. And therefore it standeth us on hand too give all our endeavour thereunto, and too labour for it all the time of our life. And so in few words ye see the stoutness which we must have too forsake all our own lusts, and all our wicked thoughts.

Hereby he sheweth vs, that it is for vs too invre our selues to pacience all our lyfe long. Although then that wee haue alredy struggled greatly too thrust all our affections, all our lustes, and all our lykings vnder foote: yit shall we neuer haue so ouermaystred our selues, ⟨p. 211⟩that wee shall bee throughly reformed. And therefore it standeth vs on hand too giue all our indeuer theruntoo, and too labour for it all the tyme of our lyfe. And so in fewe woordes yee see the stoutnesse which wee must haue too forsake all our owne lustes, and all our wicked thoughtes.

And hereupon we must proceed too the second point, which is, that we must be renewed. For it is not enough that men mislike of themselves, and hate their vices in shunning of them: but we must also frame our selves too Gods will, according too this saying: Hate evil,¹ and do good. So then, the things that S. Paul hath spoken hitherto, are as a preparative too set our life in good order: like as when a man intendeth too have a good crop in his field, he must first stub it, too rid away the brambles, bushes, and evil weeds, and afterward plough it and harrow it, and then sow it, and so will fruit spring of his labour. Therefore if we purpose too bear fruit unto God, and be desirous too order our life in such wise as his name may be glorified by it: we must first cause our selves too be stubbed, for we be full of naughty affections, which are as thorns and thistles, and therefore must be cut away and plucked up by the root: and afterward we must be tilled, so as the plough pass upon us: that is to say, when our Lord maketh us too feel his Justice, we must be so sorry that we be so given too naughtiness, as it may be as a good tilth too us at Gods hand. That is the thing which Saint Paul doth hitherto.