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…

is it not reason that we should be dedicated unto him, seeing he calleth us too holiness? And ought not this honourable title too restrain us, from taking such unbridled liberty as every of us could find in his hart too take in following his own lusts? Too be short, Saint Paul meant too show us here, how we may fight against our wicked lusts. For if we follow our own nature, surely though some man be not inclined too lechery, yet shall he have other vices: yea & we have all vices in us, but that we be restrained by Gods bridle: and yet doth every man beguile him self on his own behalf. Now what is too be done? We must not spare our selves, but rather fight against our selves. Let us not be dismayed though the Devil be so subtle, and we so tender and so easy too be soon shaken down: but let us consider how God calleth us too the contrary. And what is that? Too be holy in him. The thing therefore that Saint Paul meant too say in the first place, is that he armeth us by setting before us the state whereunto God hath vouchsafed too call us through his goodness, too the intent that every man should gather strength, and not give any way too Satan: but that although we be sore laid at, yet we should not yield him the victory, because God hath chosen us unto all cleanness. And after he hath drawn us so by gentleness, he doth also set down an horrible menace, and which ought too make the hairs too stand up upon our heads: and thereby we see how God endeavoureth too win us too him by all means. When he sayeth, You be Saints or Holy ones: therein God useth sweetness and gentleness, as if he should say, my children, bethink your selves, for I have not created you too live at adventure in this world, but I have therewithal adopted you, too the intent too call you too the heavenly heritage. Now then, seeing I have redeemed you with the blood of my Son, and given you my spirit too dwell in you, too the end you should be my temples, and I be worshipped there: will you now go and give your selves too all lewdness again▪ and in stead of being my temples, become sties for swine, and suffer your affections too be as dirt and dung too defile you withal, ⟨p. 245⟩and fall too wallowing again in the mire, after ye have bin washed and made clean? If ye will be my children, hold ye in the plight that I have set you.

is it not reason that wee should be dedicated vnto him, seing he calleth vs too holinesse? And ought not this honorable tytle too restreyne vs, from taking such vnbrydled libertie as euery of vs could fynd in his hart too take in folowing his owne lusts? Too bee short, Saint Paule ment too shewe vs heere, how wee may fyght ageinst our wicked lusts. For if we follow our own nature, surely though some man be not inclyned too lecherie, yit shall he haue other vyces: yea & we haue all vyces in vs, but that we be restreyned by Gods brydle: and yit doth euery man beguyle him self on his owne behalf. Now what is too bee doone? Wee must not spare our selues, but rather fight ageinst our selues. Let vs not bee dismayd though the Diuell bee so suttle, and wee so tender and so easie too bee soone shaken downe: but let vs consider how God calleth vs too the contrarie. And what is that? Too be holy in him. The thing therfore that Saint Paule ment too say in the first place, is that he armeth vs by setting before vs the state wheruntoo God hath voutsafed too call vs through his goodnesse, too the intent that euery man should gather strength, and not giue any way too Satan: but that although wee bee sore layd at, yit wee should not yeeld him the victorie, bycause God hath chozen vs vntoo all clennesse. And after he hath drawen vs so by gentlenesse, he dooth also set downe an horrible manace, and which ought too make the heares too stand vp vppon our heads: and therby wee see how God indeuereth too win vs too him by all meanes. When he sayeth, You bee Saynts or Holy ones: therin God vseth sweetnes and gentlenesse, as if he should say, my children, bethink your selues, for I haue not created you too liue at alauenture in this worlde, but I haue therwithall adopted you, too the intent too call you too the heauenly heritage. Now then, seeing I haue redeemed you with the blud of my sonne, and giuen you my spirit too dwell in you, too the end you should bee my temples, and I bee woorshipped there: will you now go and giue your selues too all leaudnesse agein and in sted of being my temples, become styes for swyne, and suffer your affections too bee as dirt and dung too defyle you withall,