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…

he must be fain too make us see that we may overshoot our selves in this sort and that sort, too the end we may be well armed on all sides, that the devil find not any gap open, nor be able too make any breach into us. That is it which we have too bear in mind, too the intent we take not our selves too be so able folks, as that the once hearing of a matter is enough for us. For we shall wonder too see how the devil will nevertheless overreach us many ways. And therefore let us be well ware that we give good ear too all the warnings that are given us, because it is not any whit more than needeth.

he must bee fayne too make vs see that wee may ouershoote our selues in this sort and that sort, too the end wee may bee well armed on all syds, that the diuell fynd not any gap open, nor bee able too make any breache intoo vs. That is it which wee haue too beare in mynd, too the intent wee take not our selues too be so able folks, as that the once hearing of a matter is ynough for vs. For wee shall woonder too see how the diuell will neuerthelesse ouerreache vs many wayes. And therfore let vs bee well ware that wee giue good eare too all the warnings that are giuen vs, bycause it is not any whit more than needeth.

And forasmuch as Saint Paul had spoken of truth: he sayeth, Put away lying, and speak every man the truth. He setteth the word Truth in another sense here, than he did afore. For in calling holiness and righteousness truthful, he meant that there ought too be no glossing nor disguising, but a right meaning simplicity, that when God looketh as a witness into our harts, he may find no double dealing in us. After that manner was the word Truth taken afore. Now he speaketh of the truth that ought too reign among us▪ when we traffic or bargain one with another. Then must […] ⟨p. 216⟩be faithful and trusty in all our business and doings, and we must use no wiles nor deceit. And yet that is not enough: but we must mark, that this truth whereof Saint Paul speaketh, is such a plain dealing, as we lay open all that is in our hart, if need require, and in any wise go not about too get other mens goods too us by subtlety and craftiness, nor too profit our selves by another mans loss. And on the contrary part, under this word Lying, he comprehendeth not only the lies that are made in speech, as when a man sayeth, that white is black, as for example, if one should ask a man the price of a thing, he would sell that for a crown, which is not worth a shilling. Saint Paul speaketh not of the Lies that are so gross & far out of square, that even little children are able too condemn them: but by the name of Lying, he meaneth all manner of counterfeiting and cozening, and too be short, all the policies and shifts that men have, and wherein they glory. Look what the world termeth wisdom or policy: that doth Saint Paul call flat Lying. And why? For a man is not counted too be witty now adays, except the can filch and deceive, I mean by byways & covert conveyances, which men shall not perceive. But this gere is worse than the picking of a chest, and the breaking a sunder of the iron work, too get away the money, or than the murdering of a man, when a thief comes with a naked sword too cut a poor wayfarers throat. Therefore these politic murderers, which will needs be counted honest men, may disguise themselves as much as they list by their hypocrisy: but yet are they called (here) both deceivers, and thieves and murderers. Not that they appear so before men: