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…

Now, is not God our sovereign prince? Yes: and although we be but wretched worms of the earth, and vile carrions: yet doeth he the honour unto us too adopt us for his children. Now then, if wicked and heathenish folk deface his majesty, and darken his righteousness, yea and endeavour too pluck his dominion from him, and we dissemble at it: is it not too excessive and intolerable a lewdness? Therefore let us mark well what is told us here. For it standeth us so much the more on hand too mark this text, because this vice hath reigned in the world in all ages: namely that according as every man is more or less desirous too be flattered, so doth he the easier bear with other men, not after the manner which we have seen heretofore, which is that we ought too have compassion of such as are weak, and too use patience towards them: but clean contrariwise, that is too wit, that we be contented too feed the evil, and too enter continually ⟨p. 256⟩into a willing confederacy together: and too the intent that other men should not sift us too narrowly in our vices, but let us alone too do what we list, we give every man leave too take like liberty too him self. And that is the cause why all things are out of order now adays in the world. Again, we be loth too provoke any mans displeasure against us, insomuch that we had lever betray God, and too betray our neighbours both body and soul, than too use the liberty that Gods spirit commandeth us. We see a wretched man play the naughtipacke: let him follow his own swing, (say we:) it makes no matter too us. And why? for we will not discontent him. Again, we see othersome pervert all order of Justice, and infect the whole people and country. And we pass it over easily without speaking against it. And why? O I will not bring my self in displeasure with a man of authority. Let some other body lead the dance, and I will willingly say, Amen too it. And if he were hanged on a Jebet a while, he had but his desert. But no Godhamercie too me in the mean while. For why? I will not go put myself in any hazard (for the matter.) Thus are vices passed over nowadays. But yet will not God give over his right for all that.

Now, is not God our souerein prince? Yis: and although wee bee but wretched woormes of the earth, and vyle caryons: yit dooeth he the honour vntoo vs too adopt vs for his children. Now then, if wicked and heathenish folk deface his maiestie, and darken his ryghtuousnesse, yea and indeuer too plucke his dominion from him, and wee dissemble at it: is it not too excessiue and intollerable a leaudnesse? Therfore let vs mark well what is told vs heere. For it standeth vs so much the more on hand too mark this text, bycause this vyce hath reigned in the world in all ages: namely that according as euery man is more or lesse desyrous too be flatttered, so dothe he the easyer beare with other men, not after the maner which wee haue seene heertofore, which is that wee ought too haue compassion of such as are weake, and too vse pacience towards them: but cleane contrariwyse, that is too wit, that wee bee contented too feede the euill, and too enter continually