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…

The .xxxv. Sermon, which is the third upon the fifth Chapter.

The .xxxv. Sermon, which is the third vppon the fifth Chapter.

8. For ye were sometime darkness: but now are ye light in the Lord: walk ye as children of the light: ⟨p. 248⟩9. (For the fruit of the spirit consisteth in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth.) 10. Trying what is acceptable too the Lord. 11. And have not too do with the fruitless works of darkness, but rather even rebuke them.

8. For yee vvere sometyme darknesse: but novv are yee lyght in the Lord: walke yee as children of the lyght: ⟨p. 248⟩9. (For the fruite of the spirit consisteth in all goodnesse, and rightuousnesse, and truth.) 10. Trying what is acceptable too the Lord. 11. And haue not too doo with the fruitlesse woorks of darknesse, but rather euen rebuke them.

We know how hard a matter it is too reclaim men from evil custom, when they be once inhardened unto it. For the mischief doth easily take root in us, because we be inclined and almost wholly given too it of nature. But yet we be not so soon changed, when we have continued along time in doing evil. For it happeneth unto us as unto sick folks, whose diseases having once gathered strength, do so stick too their bones, as they can by no means be purged away. Now a great number of folk […] given to naughtiness, and bear with themselves in many vices, before they be called of God, and touched too the quick with repentance. Therefore we have need too practise the doctrine that Saint Paul teacheth us here: that is too wit, too know that when we have held aloof from God, and strayed from the way of salvation, we must not flatter our selves in it, nor make a buckler and excuse of it, because it is become an ordinary thing with us. For we must not pardon our selves a whit the more for all that, but rather consider that God hath pitied us, and that his drawing of us from the evil wherein we were, was too the end too change us, and too make his power and grace the better known by our life, in that it beareth witness that we be no more the men that we were before. That is the cause why Saint Paul saith in this text, Ye were once darkness, but now hath God enlightened you. As if he should say, that we must not respect either what others do, or what hath befallen in our selves, too hope too be justified, and acquit of our faults by that means. For when it hath once pleased God too reach us his hand, and too show us such mercy as too adopt us for his children, and to make us heirs of the heavenly life, in stead that we were forlorn, cursed, and damned afore: that grace ought too prevail greatly in us, too make us become