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…

Furthermore whereas Saint Paul sayeth, that neither whoremongers, nor covetous men, nor unclean persons shall enter into the ⟨p. 246⟩kingdom of God: he meaneth not that all such as have offended and done amiss, are rejected of God. For who is he that can say, he is clear of all the vices that are rehearsed here? But he meaneth the whoremongers, covetous persons, and loose livers that take pleasure in their lusts, and are hardened in them, and are so settled in the filthiness of them, as there is not any more fear of God in them too hold them back. We hear what he sayeth too the Corinthians,¹ where having made a greater beadroll of the same and other vices, and having first uttered the like sentence, telling them that all such as are given too those vices shall never come in the kingdom of God: he sayeth, and such have you bin. He showeth that the faithful also had bin stained with the like corruptions. But ye be washed and made clean, (sayeth he) ye be sanctified by Gods holy spirit, and through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. As if he should say, by nature ye were miserable, and folk given too all lewdness. The willingness and desire that you have now too serve God, came not of your selves, but of Gods drawing of you unto him, that whereas you were erst as wild beasts, he hath brought you unto his obedience: whereas ye were foul and unclean, he hath washed you with the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ: and whereas you were unholy, he hath made you holy by his holy Ghost. And therefore fall not too wallowing and plunging of your selves again into uncleanness. Thus the true meaning of those words is in effect, that the wicked and such as lead an awless and lawless life, that is too say, such as fight not against their lusts, but delight in naughtiness, shall never come in the kingdom of God. For first of all, if the faithful be not renewed at their birth by the spirit of God: they be stained with the sins whereunto mankind is subject, yea and we see some that are wholly given unto them. And albeit that our Lord have wrought in us by his holy spirit: it doth not therefore follow that we be so well reformed at the first day, as there is no more evil in us. For we must be fain too keep continual battle through repentance, all our life long.

Furthermore whereas Saint Paule sayeth, that nother whoremoongers, nor cuetous men, nor vncleane persons shall enter intoo the ⟨p. 246⟩