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…

That also is the cause why he sayeth, that we give place too the devil, when the sun goeth down upon our anger. It is true, that we have no sooner tripped, but that devil hath already had power over us: howbeit he is bridled in such wise, that if we bethink us of our faults, and amend them, God suffereth him not too hold us captive as prisoners. But when we be so far overseen as to take pitch, and to like well of our own testiness, and thereupon to conceive a number of fancies too rankle inward more and more: (I say) if we be at that point: we have given Satan entrance, he hath taken possession of us, and afterward it is out of time for us too wish too return: for the mischief is rooted so deep, and grown so strong, that medicines can not do any more good, as I have showed already. Now we see S. Pauls meaning. And therefore let us put this doctrine in ure. The first point whereof is to examine well the evil that is in us, that we may be angry with our selves, and every of us be as a foe too himself, as driven by a zeal to Godward, to hate & abhor our own vices. Let that be the first thing that we bestow our study upon and then shall we have whereupon too occupy well our chafing and choler, & we shall be no more so hasty to take pitch against such as have done us some wrong, but we will rather bear with them that have foully offended us, because we shall have business enough too search out our own imperfections. And (as I said afore) we shall the easier bear with other mens misdealings, when we perceive our selves blame worthy so many ways, not towards mortal creatures only, but towards the living God. For what are we that we should keep such a stir for every wrong that is done us, seeing we crave forgiveness at Gods hand every day (as necessity also constraineth us) of the offences which we have committed against his majesty, and wherethrough we have broken his righteousness? The very mean therefore to appease all wicked & excessive cholericknesse, is that every of us be grieved & angry with him self, because he sees him self subject too ⟨p. 220⟩so many infirmities, or rather so many sins and vices.

That also is the cause why he sayeth, that wee giue place too the diuell, when the sunne goeth downe vppon our anger. It is trew, that wee haue no sooner tripped, but that diuell hath alredy had power ouer vs: howbeeit he is brydled in such wyse, that if wee bethink vs of our faults, and amend them, God suffereth him not too hold vs captiue as prisoners. But when we be so farre ouerseene as to take pritch, and to lyke wel of our owne testinesse, and therupon to conceyue a number of fancies too rancle inward more and more: (I say) if wee bee at that poynt: wee haue giuen Satan entrance, he hath taken possession of vs, and afterward it is out of tyme for vs too wish too returne: for the mischeef is rooted so deepe, and growen so strong, that medicines can not doo any more good, as I haue shewed alredy. Now we see S. Paules meaning. And therfore let vs put this doctrin in vre. The first poynt wherof is to examin well the euill that is in vs, that we may be angry with our selues, and euery of vs be as a foe too himself, as driuen by a zeale to Godward, to hate & abhorre our owne vyces. Let that be the first thing that we bestowe our studie vppon and then shall we haue wherupon too occupie well our chafing and choler, & we shalbe no more so hasty to take pritch ageinst such as haue doone vs some wrong, but wee will rather beare with them that haue fowly offended vs, bycause wee shall haue buzinesse ynough too serche out our owne imperfections. And (as I sayd afore) wee shall the easlyer beare with other mennes misdealings, when wee perceyue our selues blame woorthie so many wayes, not towards mortall creatures only, but towards the liuing God. For what are wee that wee should keepe such a stirre for euery wrong that is doone vs, seing wee craue forgiuenesse at Gods hand euery day (as necessitie also constreyneth vs) of the offences which wee haue committed ageinst his maiestie, and wherthrough we haue brokē his ryghtuousnes? The very meane therfore to appease al wicked & excessiue cholericknesse, is that euery of vs be greeued & angry with him self, bycause he sees him self subiect too