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…

Although we be slow and weak, and although we trip and stumble, yet God imputeth none of those faults unto us, when we be desirous too fashion our selves like too him. When we shoot at that mark, although we be far short or wide of it, yet doth God take it in good worth, as I said. And that ought too give us courage? For if we should be driven too fashion our selves like unto God point by point in all respects: alas how could it be done? For even the very Angels, notwithstanding that there be nothing but holiness in them, and that Gods glory shine forth in them: are yet far short from the perfection that is in God. A•d what are we then, which be so corrupted and marred, which have such abundance of naughtiness, and which are so plucked back and turned away, by so many vices and temptations which Satan trumpeth in our way? yet have we this too rejoice of, that our Lord beareth with us, and accepteth all our doings in good part, so we keep on towards him. That is the manner of following him, which is commanded us here. True it is that we must not in the mean while fall asleep, ⟨p. 239⟩and say, as many do: I would fain be like unto God, and then do but wring their mouth at it: but we must consider every day and every hour, that we have ill profited in the true rule of fashioning our selves like unto God, and thereupon condemn our selves for it, and think thus: I had some good will yesterday, how is it increased since? (nothing at all,) but rather to my seeming it is become colder. After that manner must we quicken up our selves, & fight against the things that hinder us, that we may endeavour too go still forward, and too come nearer and nearer too our mark from whence we be yet so far of. But howsoever we fare, yet will not our Lord fail too esteem us always too be like him, and too be true followers of him, if we willingly and without hypocrisy forgive them that have offended against us, at leastwise after his example, who hath given us a pardon that is far greater than all the pardons that can be gotten at our hands, so as we bear with the vices and infirmities of our neighbours, as we see that he hath borne with us. For he might justly sink us down too the bottom of hell: and yet he forbeareth not too adopt us for his children.

Although wee bee slowe and weake, and although wee trip and stumble, yit God imputeth none of those faultes vntoo vs, when wee bee desyrous too fashyon our selues lyke too him. When wee shoote at that marke, although wee bee farre short or wyde of it, yit dooth God take it in good woorth, as I sayd. And that ought too giue vs corage? For if wee should bee dryuen too fashyon our selues lyke vntoo God poynt by poynt in all respectes: alas how could it bee doone? For euen the very Angels, notwithstanding that there bee nothing but holinesse in them, and that Gods glorie shyne foorth in them: are yit farre short from the perfection that is in God. Ad what are wee then, which bee so corrupted and marred, which haue such abundance of naughtinesse, and which are so plucked back and turned away, by so many vyces and temptations which Satan trumpeth in our way? yit haue wee this too reioyce of, that our Lord beareth with vs, and accepteth all our dooings in good part, so wee keepe on toowardes him. That is the manner of following him, which is commaunded vs heere. Trew it is that wee must not in the meane whyle fall asleepe,