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 divideth this doctrine into several points, applying it too particular exhortations. For first he sayeth, that every man must leave lying, and speak the truth to his neighbours, because we be members all of one body. Not without cause doth Saint Paul here lay forth things particularly, which he had erst spoken generally. For we would always shift our hands of the doctrine, that it might vanish away in the air, and not come at us. Not that Gods speaking too us in general might not suffice us, if we were teachable as we ought be, too receive instruction at his hand: but because we be so snarled in our vanities, that if God do but say generally that we must be reformed according too his image, and utterly renounce […] selves: it toucheth us not at all, but we let it pass. Therefore is he fain too decipher it by piecemeal, as if he should make an anatomy of our thoughts and affections, and bring too ⟨image 234⟩light the vices which we would fain hoard up in huthther muther. That is the thing which Saint Paul goeth now about. He had said, that it behoveth us too be reformed after the image of God by our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the new man, and the head whereunto we must be like fashioned. Now if he had gone no further than so: that doctrine had bin received without gainsaying, but in the mean while no man had fared the better by it as by a lively instruction. But now will he speak of whoredom, of Theft, of deceitfulness, of drunkenness, of hatred, of heartburning, and of the subtle flights that pass between neighbour and neighbour. When things are thus laid forth by particulars, men are the more wakened: and although every man shrink back & invent excuses, & deuyze shifts: yet, will we, nil we, we must needs feel some hartbytings in us. That is the order which Saint Paul keepeth here. Wherefore let us make well, that it is not enough for us too have bin taught our duty in one word, and as it were at a glance: but God had need too warn us, and too show us flatly as well the vices whereto we be subject and inclined (of our own nature:) as also the vices whereto the devil draweth us by his temptations and wiles. To be short, God must be fain to guide our hands, our feet, our eyes, our ears, and our mouths:

Now heeruppon he deuydeth this doctrine intoo seuerall poynts, applying it too particular exhortations. For first he sayeth, that euery man must leaue lying, and speake the truthe to his neyghbours, bycause wee bee members all of one bodie. Not without cause doth Saint Paule heere lay foorth things particularly, which he had erst spoken generally. For wee would alwayes shift our hands of the doctrine, that it myght vanish away in the aire, and not come at vs. Not that Gods speaking too vs in generall myght not suffyze vs, if wee were teachable as wee ought bee, too receyue instruction at his hand: but bycause we bee so snarled in our vanities, that if God doo but say generally that wee must bee reformed according too his image, and vtterly renounce selues: it toucheth vs not at all, but wee let it passe. Therfore is he fayne too decyfer it by parcemeale, as if hee should make an anatomie of our thoughts and affections, and bring too