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 be we once come too that point, there is no more sorriness (as S. Paul said afore,¹) there is nothing but such stubbornness, as God is nothing with us, neither have we any more feeling or perseverance of our sins. That is the cause why he sayeth here, that we must wake, because we be in a deadly sleep, until God stir us up, and make us perceive what we be, that we may abhor our sins and return unto him. So then, the entrance of life and salvation, is, that God visiteth us with his grace, whereas we were as dead wretches, and had nothing in us but utter corruption. Mark that for one point.

Now bee wee once come too that poynt, there is no more sorinesse (as S. Paule sayd afore,¹) there is nothing but such stubbornnesse, as God is nothing with vs, nother haue wee any more feeling or perceyuerance of our sinnes. That is the cause why he sayeth heere, that wee must wake, bycause wee be in a deadly sleepe, vntyll God stirre vs vp, and make vs perceyue what wee bee, that wee may abhorre our sinnes and returne vntoo him. So then, the enterance of lyfe and saluation, is, that God visiteth vs with his grace, wheras wee were as dead wretches, and had nothing in vs but vtter corruption. Mark that for one poynt.

1. 1Ephe. 4. •. 19.

Secondly let us mark, that besides the naughtiness which is in us, there is also so great a hardness and wilfulness, as God must be fain too wake us as it were by force, that we may have some feeling of our vices too mislike them. True it is that this is done chiefly when God calleth us, and pulleth us out of the confusion wherein we were. But yet must every Christian continue therein all the time of his life. For we shall never be so throughly awake, but that we shall have need of Gods stirring up of us still: according as ye shall