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…

Heerwithall Saint Paul sayeth, that it becometh well the Saints: and that is too show, that there ought to be no disputing nor replying: but that vices should be condemned sharply. For whereunto doth God call us? Too that point must we come. Truly if any man say, men are frail, and alas if they might not be so bold as too cast their eye aside too give a pleasant look, but they should be condemned for it: I say if mans frailty might be construed so, truly that vice would either be utterly lessened, or else made half excusable. But let us come to our own state. God knoweth our infirmities: but he will not have us to welter in them: for he hath vouchsafed to dedicate us too his seruis. Now let us see if we can make these loose behaviours and all these follies, which are but Satan's allurements (as I said afore), too agree with the word Holiness. What is meant by holiness? It is as much too say, as we must be shoaled out too offer our selves unto God, that he may enjoy us and wield us, so as we may be wholly his, and (too be short) be no more attainted and sullied with the filthiness of the world. If Holiness import all this, and that it must be in us or else we shall not be Gods children: it is not for us too plead any more in defence of ribaldry, that it might be taken but for a light fault. Saint Paul therefore bringeth us back too the honour that God doeth us: as if he should say, that if it seem over strange and hard unto us too refrain from the vanities wherein the world delighteth so much, and wherein men think even their life too consist, insomuch that the unbelievers think not themselves too be alive, unless they may delight themselves with foolish and wanton dalliance, but that they do but linger and pine away: when we be provoked too the like things: we must consider what honour God hath done us in vouchsafing too dedicate us too his obedience. For what are we by nature? what is there in us? Even from ⟨image 263⟩our mothers womb we bring nothing but disorder, we be cursed, we be sopped in sin, and too be short, from top too toe there is not any piece in us which is not given too evil: all our members are instruments of sin: neither eyes nor ears, neither mouth, feet, nor hands are exempted. Forasmuch then as we be full of all uncleanness through sin, and yet for all that, God hath now plucked us back from it:

Heerwithall Saint Paule sayeth, that it becommeth well the Saincts: and that is too shewe, that there ought to be no disputing nor replying: but that vyces should bee condemned sharply. For wheruntoo dooth God call vs? Too that poynt must wee come. Truely if any man say, men are frayle, and alas if they myght not bee so bold as too cast their eye asyde too giue a pleasant looke, but they should bee condemned for it: I say if mans frayltie myght bee construed so, truely that vyce would eyther bee vtterly lessened, or else made half excuzable. But let vs come to our owne state. God knoweth our infirmities: but he wil not haue vs to welter in them: for he hath voutsafed to dedicate vs too his seruis. Now let vs see if wee can make these looce behauyours and all these folies, which are but Satans allurements (as I sayd afore), too agree with the woord Holinesse. What is ment by holinesse? It is as much too say, as wee must bee sholed out too offer our selues vntoo God, that he may inioy vs and weeld vs, so as wee may bee wholly his, and (too bee short) bee no more atteynted and sullyed with the filthinesse of the worlde. If Holynesse import all this, and that it must bee in vs or else wee shal not bee Gods children: it is not for vs too pleade any more in defence of ribaudrie, that it myght bee taken but for a lyght fault. Saint Paule therfore bringeth vs backe too the honour that God dooeth vs: as if he should say, that if it seeme ouer straunge and hard vntoo vs too refreyne from the vanities wherin the worlde delyghteth so much, and wherin men think euen their lyfe too consist, insomuch that the vnbeleeuers thinke not themselues too bee alyue, vnlesse they may delyght themselues with foolish and wanton dalliance, but that they doo but linger and pyne away: when wee bee prouoked too the lyke things: wee must consider what honour God hath done vs in voutsafing too dedicate vs too his obedience. For what are wee by nature? what is there in vs? Euen from