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 hereupon we may gather, that it is not too be thought strange, though the world be now adays given too all lewdness. For it seemeth too be no evil at all too use jesting and scoffing talk, insomuch that men would make a virtue of it, and find no bones at all in it. Likewise we see a great number of jesters and scoffers, whose drift is too put away all shame, that men might let themselves at random, and become utterly shameless. We see this too much in use, and therefore no marvel though we gather the fruits of that wicked and cursed licentiousness, which is too much suffered. And hereby we see also, what is too be thought of all wanton (and bawdy songs, and of lovemakings. If a young maid use (as it is used too commonly) too sing foolish songs of love: she will be made a whore, even before she know what whoredom is. And so is she ⟨image 246⟩(emboldened and) inhardned too all unshamefastnesse, and the devil getteth possession of her before she know what chastity meaneth, and how horrible a thing it is to put forth herself too such lewdness, and too break her faith and troth which she shall have plighted, when she comes too marriage. Before a maid can be able too discern all this: she shall be utterly marred aforehand, if she acquaint herself with lewd songs. And it is wonder that this mischief can not be redressed. Whereby it appeareth, that Satan laboureth in that behalf, and straineth himself too the uttermost, knowing that he hath us at a great advantage, if he may so sow his cursed cockle, too corrupt our good manners. For surely if the devil wrought not in it, we might more easily deal too dispatch and rid away all those ribaldries and filthiness out of remembrance, which are as deadly plagues, as I have said afore. But it is impossible. For though there were sorer punishment for it than there is: yet both wives and maids had lever go too prison, and too be taken for harlots, than too correct that vice, which is the corrupter of the whole world, and too bridle their cursed tongues, which serve for nothing but too infect all things with that filthiness. Yet notwithstanding, we shall have the less excuse after such warning, and as for them that stop their ears, and will needs harden their hearts against the holy Ghost:

And heereuppon wee may gather, that it is not too bee thought straunge, though the world bee now adayes giuen too all leaudnesse. For it seemeth too bee no euill at all too vse iesting and scoffing talke, insomuch that men would make a vertewe of it, and fynd no bones at all in it. Lykewyse wee see a great number of iesters and scoffers, whose drift is too put away all shame, that men myght let themselues at raundon, and become vtterly shamelesse. Wee see this too much in vse, and therefore no maruell though wee gather the frutes of that wicked and cursed licentiousnesse, which is too much suffered. And heereby wee see also, what is too bee thought of all wanton (and baudie songs, and of louemakings. If a young mayd vse (as it is vsed too commonly) too sing foolish songs of loue: shee will bee made a whoore, euen before shee knowe what whooredome is. And so is shee