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…

Too be short, it is all one as if S. Paul should say, that by nature we be but only darkness in Adam, and that we be enlightened again in our Lord Jesus Christ. Now (as I said afore) it is too the intent we should seek none excuse, by alleging that we cannot put off our old skin, nor utterly forsake the things that are so printed in us: (for those shifts are but trifling, and they […] pass in account before God:) but contrariwise too the intent we should learn, too examine well what we be, and what our state is, till God have redressed it, and too consider what we have of our own, namely that we bring nothing but cursedness with us from our mothers womb: and therewithal make the grace effectual which God hath given us, that it be not (as ye would say) choked through our unthankfulness and malice, but that we consider well to what end our Lord▪ hath reached us his hand, and showed himself so pitiful towards us: namely that whereas we were plunged in darkness, it was his will to bring us again too light.

Too bee short, it is all one as if S. Paule should saye, that by nature wee bee but onely darknesse in Adam, and that wee bee inlyghtened agein in our Lord Iesus Christ. Now (as I sayd afore) it is too the intent wee should seeke none excuce, by alledging that wee cannot put off our olde skin, nor vtterly forsake the thinges that are so printed in vs: (for those shiftes are but tryfling, and they 〈…〉 passe in account before God:) but contrariwyse too the intent wee should learne, too examine well what wee bee, and what our state is, tyll God haue redressed it, and too consider what wee haue of our owne, namely that wee bring nothing but cursednesse with vs from our moothers womb: and therwithall make the grace effectuall which God hath giuen vs, that it bee not (as yee would say) choked through our vnthankfulnesse and malice, but that wee consider well to what end our Lord▪ hath reached vs his hand, and shewed himselfe so pitifull towardes vs: namely that wheras wee were plundged in darknesse, it was his will to bring vs agein too lyght.

And we be called light in the Lord, not only because we have the word of his Gospel, which is as a burning Cresset too guide us by: but also because that he himself is as the spiritual Daysonne, and doth therewithal enlighten us inwardly by Gods spirit. For we see by experience, that men fare never a whit the better by having their ears beaten with the doctrine of truth: for one may take pain too teach them, and yet it shall be but labour lost. Therefore our Lord must be fain too make his sun shine, that is too say, like as he hath commanded and ordained his word too be preached unto us: