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…

that we ought rather too take warning by them to withdraw our selves, and too hold our selves as it were fettered up under the fear and obedience of our God, seeing he showeth so special favour unto us, whereof the residue which abide still ignorant and unbelieving, are deprived.

that wee ought rather too take warning by them to withdrawe our selues, and too hold our selues as it were fettered vp vnder the feare and obedience of our God, seeing he sheweth so speciall fauour vntoo vs, wherof the residew which abyde still ignorant and vnbeleeuing, are depryued.

Howbeit for the better understanding of the whole, let us mark first, that Saint Paul hath showed us here what the state of all men in general is, until God have drawn them too him. And he telleth us there is not any cause at all why we should •ooth our selves in our virtues, insomuch that this only speech of his, where he sayeth, that we be darkness, (that is too say, that there is neither light, reason, nor any government in us, but rather that we be become stark beasts) •ught well too make us all too cast down our eyes and too submit our selves with humility. In deed many shall have some show of wisdom, and be commended of the world as well advised men, and as able not only too guide themselves in their whole life, but also too counsel (and direct) others. Yet notwithstanding, God avoweth that in stead of having right wisdom and reason, we be but brute beasts as in respect of him. Now like as this saying warneth us to sigh and groan before God: so also doth it provoke us too seek the remedy that is necessary for the well ruling of our life, that is, too suffer God too be our master and teacher by his word, (as shall be declared more at length anon) and also too pray him that his holy spirit may so work in us, and that we may not be led with such overweening, as too count our selves wise in our own conceit and fancy. And so ye see in effect what we have too remember upon this strain, where Saint Paul intytuleth men by a reproachful name, saying that they be darkness, and that there is nothing but utter brutishness in them. And hereof I have treated already in the last chapter, where Saint Paul showed, that men discern nothing, ne go but too their destructions, until such time as they be reformed.