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…

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 ⟨image 267⟩new creatures. And as for them among whom we live, if God give them the bridle and let them alone as men forsaken: let us understand, that it was his will too shoal us out from so miserable taking. And therefore let them be as looking glasses unto us, too behold what a wretchedness it is for men to follow their own lusts. So little then ought the offending and sinning of a multitude, too cover our faults:

WEe knowe how hard a matter it is too reclayme men from euill custome, when they bee once inhardened vntoo it. For the mischeefe dooth easly take roote in vs, bycause wee bee inclyned and almost wholly giuen too it of nature. But yit wee bee not so soone chaunged, when wee haue continewed along tyme in dooing euill. For it happeneth vntoo vs as vnto sicke folkes, whose diseases hauing once gathered strength, doo so sticke too their bones, as they can by no meanes bee purged away. Now a great number of folke giuen to naughtinesse, and beare with themselues in many vyces, before they bee called of God, and touched too the quicke with repentance. Therefore wee haue neede too practyze the doctrine that Saint Paule teacheth vs heere: that is too wit, too knowe that when wee haue hild aloofe from God, and strayed from the way of saluation, wee must not flatter our selues in it, nor make a buckler and excuce of it, bycause it is become an ordinarie thing with vs. For wee must not pardon our selues a whit the more for all that, but rather consider that God hath pityed vs, and that his drawing of vs from the euill wherein we were, was too the end too chaunge vs, and too make his power and grace the better knowen by our lyfe, in that it beareth witnesse that wee bee no more the men that wee were before. That is the cause why Saint Paul sayth in this text, Yee vvere once darkenesse, but novv hath God inlyghtened you. As if he should say, that wee must not respect eyther what others doo, or what hath befalne in our selues, too hope too bee iustifyed, and acquit of our faultes by that meanes. For when it hath once pleazed God too reache vs his hand, and too shewe vs such mercie as too adopt vs for his children, and to make vs heires of the heauenly lyfe, in sted that wee were forlorne, cursed, and damned afore: that grace ought too preuayle greatly in vs, too make vs become