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…

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.

Howbeeit for the better vnderstanding of the whole, let vs marke first, that Saint Paule hath shewed vs heere what the state of all men in generall is, vntill God haue drawen them too him. And he telleth vs there is not any cause at all why wee should •ooth our selues in our vertewes, insomuch that this only speeche of his, where he sayeth, that wee be darknesse, (that is too say, that there is nother lyght, reason, nor any gouernement in vs, but rather that wee bee become stark beasts) •ught well too make vs all too cast downe our eyes and too submit our selues with humilitie. In deede many shall haue some showe of wisdome, and bee commended of the world as well aduyzed men, and as able not only too guyde themselues in their whole lyfe, but also too counsell (and direct) others. Yit notwithstanding, God auoweth that in stead of hauing ryght wisdome and reason, wee bee but brute beastes as in respect of him. Now lyke as this saying warneth vs to sygh and grone before God: so also doth it prouoke vs too seeke the remedie that is necessarie for the well ruling of our lyfe, that is, too suffer God too bee our maister and teacher by his woord, (as shalbee declared more at length anon) and also too pray him that his holy spirit may so woork in vs, and that wee may not bee led with such ouerweening, as too count our selues wyse in our owne conceyt and fancie. And so yee see in effect what wee haue too remember vppon this streyne, where Saint Paul intytuleth men by a reprochefull name, saying that they bee darknesse, and that there is nothing but vtter brutishnesse in them. And hereof I haue treated alredy in the last chapter, where Saint Paule shewed, that men discerne nothing, ne go but too their destructions, vntill such tyme as they bee reformed.