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…

And Saint Paul sayeth purposely, that he which hath stolen, should steal no more: too show that there ought too appear such a change in our life, when God hath once brought us home too himself by his Gospel, as we may no more resemble the wretched unbelievers which walk in darkness, but consider that our Lords enlightening of us, is with condition, that we should become new creatures. And herewithall we see the thing that I have touched already: namely that S. Paul speaketh not of the common thefts that are condemned and punished afore the world: for then should it follow, that all had bin thieves which had bin converted too christianity. But (as I said afore) he useth the word Steal, purposely too make us too abhor all craftiness, malice, subtleness, and catching of other mens goods the more. For if it had bin said (but thus:) use no more craft too deceive men, neither take ye leave too pull the things to you, that are none of your own: he had not touched them so much too the quick, which flatter themselves, and seek too have some covert to cloak their vices withal. But when as he sayeth, Steal no more: it is to the end that we should think thus with our selves: Alas, albeit that I would fain excuse my self, and too my seeming it were not done amiss of me, and men have bleared eyes: yet must I not rest upon that. For in the mean while my faults shall not fail too be registered before God, and I must be fain too yield an account of all things that have not bin done according too uncorrupt equity and right, and I must be taken for a thief before God, notwithstanding that all the world have quit me.

And Saint Paule sayeth purposely, that he which hath stolne, should steale no more: too shewe that there ought too appeere such a chaunge in our lyfe, when God hath once brought vs home too himself by his Gospell, as wee may no more resemble the wretched vnbeleeuers which walke in darknesse, but consider that our Lordes inlyghtening of vs, is with condition, that wee should become newe creatures. And herewithall wee see the thing that I haue touched alredy: namely that S. Paule speaketh not of the common theftes that are condemned and punished afore the world: for then should it follow, that all had bin theeues which had bin conuerted too christianitie. But (as I sayde afore) he vseth the woorde Steale, purposely too make vs too abhorre all craftinesse, malice, suttlenesse, and catching of other mens goods the more. For if it had bin sayd (but thus:) vse no more craft too deceyue men, nother take yee leaue too pull the things to you, that are none of your owne: he had not touched them so much too the quicke, which flatter themselues, and seeke too haue some couert to cloke their vyces withall. But when as he sayeth, Steale no more: it is to the ende that wee should thinke thus with our selues: Alas, albeeit that I would fayne excuze my self, and too my seeming it were not doone amisse of mee, and men haue bleared eyes: yit must I not rest vppon that. For in the meane whyle my faultes shal not fayle too bee registred before God, and I must bee fayne too yeelde an account of all things that haue not bin doone according too vncorrupte equitie and ryght, and I must bee taken for a theef before God, notwithstanding that all the world haue quit mee.