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 we see what he sayeth, namely that we be weak enough, yea and too weak: yea and so sopped in evil, as is horrible too see: and therefore when we covet too record still some new lesson (of lewdness,) and are quickened and spurred up by others, is it not as if a drunkard having well stuffed and filled himself already, even till he be ready too burst, should seek still too provoke his appetite, that he might drink and lade in wine new again? So then, is not every man sufficiently given too evil of himself, though there were no lewd songs nor unthrifty talk at all? But when the devil findeth any gap open, and can draw us further too naughtiness by his flatteries, so as he can harden us in it: I pray you do we not give him the upper hand of us, so as we be wholly at his pleasure, that he may drive us and draw us whither he listeth?

And wee see what he sayeth, namely that wee bee weake ynough, yea and too weake: yea and so saped in euill, as is horrible too see: and therefore when wee couet too record still some newe lesson (of leaudnesse,) and are quickened and spurred vp by others, is it not as if a drunkard hauing well stuffed and filled himself alredy, euen till he bee redye too burst, should seeke still too prouoke his appetyte, that he myght drinke and lade in wyne newe agein? So then, is not euery man sufficiently giuen too euill of himself, though there were no leaude songs nor vnthriftie talke at all? But when the diuell fyndeth any gap open, and can drawe vs further too naughtinesse by his flatteries, so as he can harden vs in it: I pray you doo wee not giue him the vpper hand of vs, so as we be wholy at his pleasure, that he may driue vs and drawe vs whither he listeth?

Now hereupon S. Paul addeth▪ that we must not grieve the spirit of God, wherewith we be marked and sealed against the day of our Redemption. Here is yet one declaration more, which ought too touch us near. True it is, that the things which have bin spoken, ought well of good desert too be throughly minded. For what a thing is it for us too pervert the order of nature, by applying our tongues too the clean contrary, which God hath appointed to his honour, and too the benefit of our neighbours? And again, too be guilty of infecting all men with our filthiness, of perverting those that were given too the serving of God, and of provoking those persons unto beastly unshamefastnesse, that had some shame and honesty in them? Should not this move us sufficiently, if we were not too blockish? But S. Paul telleth us of a thing that ought too scare us yet much more. Grieve not Gods Spirit (sayeth he.) And why? For we be marked with it (sayeth he) and it dwelleth in us, and sealeth the hope of our salvation in our hearts, and it is also the seed of life, which we have too warrant us our everlasting salvation. Now it is certain that when we take such liberty both too do evil and too speak evil: it is a fighting against Gods spirit as much as in us lieth, and a choking of the light which he hath kindled in us, & a taking