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 repentance should take no place, if we felt not sin dwelling still within us. Therefore it sufficeth that it reign not in us, as S. Paul exhorteth us in the sixth too the Romans. There S. Paul telleth them too whom he speaketh, that if they look upon their former life, they must needs be ashamed, because they were so strayed away, that they had forgotten God and all virtue and honesty. Ye cannot (saith ⟨image 265⟩he) remember what ye were before ye were converted too the belief of the Gospel, but ye must needs cast down your eyes with great shame. And yet notwithstanding he telleth them, that sin must not now reign in our mortal bodies, although it dwell there still. In deed it were too be wished that there were no sin dwelling in us, and that we were all like the Angels of heaven. But Saint Paul knowing well that we cannot attain too that so long as we dwell in this world, and until we have put off our corruption, and be dispatched of this transitory life: willeth us yet at leastwise, that sin should not reign in us. So then, although we be stained with many vices, yet let us so fight against them, that they may not become heinous crimes, as though we rebelled against God, but continue only as infirmities, so as we beseech God too forgive us them quite and clean, acknowledging that we have need too obtain mercy daily, accordingly as it is not without cause that he teacheth us too ask forgiveness of our sins. And so ye see how that saying is too be understood.

And repentance should take no place, if wee felt not sinne dwelling styll within vs. Therfore it suffyzeth that it reigne not in vs, as S. Paule exhorteth vs in the sixth too the Romanes. There S. Paule telleth them too whom he speaketh, that if they looke vppon their former life, they must needes be ashamed, bycause they were so strayed away, that they had forgotten God and all vertew and honestie. Yee cannot (sayth ⟨image 265⟩he) remember what yee were before yee were conuerted too the beleefe of the Gospell, but yee must needes cast downe your eyes with great shame. And yit notwithstanding he telleth them, that sinne must not now reigne in our mortall bodyes, although it dwell there still. In deede it were too bee wished that there were no sinne dwelling in vs, and that wee were all lyke the Angels of heauen. But Saint Paule knowing well that wee cannot atteyne too that so long as wee dwell in this world, and vntyll wee haue put off our corruption, and bee dispatched of this transitorie lyfe: wylleth vs yit at leastwize, that sinne should not reigne in vs. So then, although wee bee steyned with many vyces, yit let vs so fyght ageinst them, that they may not become heynous crymes, as though wee rebelled ageinst God, but continew onely as infirmities, so as wee beseeche God too forgiue vs them quite and cleane, acknowledging that wee haue neede too obteyne mercy dayly, accordingly as it is not without cause that he teacheth vs too aske forgiuenesse of our sinnes. And so yee see how that saying is too bee vnderstoode.