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…

And too provoke us the more thereunto, he addeth, that we have need too redeem the time, because the days are evil. Wherein he showeth that we cannot deuyze too abuzz Gods grace so little, but it is a wilful losing of the time, which we cannot recover afterward. Now then, let us gather a brief sum of the things that are contained here, and let us begin at this point, that the days are evil, whereby Saint Paul doth us too wit, that we shall find many lets too keep us from coming unto God. For we know we be hemmed in with so many corruptions, that even they which are best minded, shall stumble on the one side, be pulled back on the other, and divers times stray quite away. Now we had need of a singular inworking, too fight in such wise as we may get the upper hand of all the impediments that Satan castes afore us, to pluck us from our God, and to thrust us quite and clean out of the way of salvation. And therefore this hath bin true in all ages, that forasmuch as men are always froward of nature, and we be borne in sin: Satan holdeth us as his prisoners. Again, there is not that man among us, which draweth not other men too naughtiness. Moreover, we wot not scarcely how to open our eyes, but we shall see some one thing or other, that may utterly overthrow us, and the devil through his wiliness applieth all too his own working, that unless we take good heed too his doings, he marreth us out of hand. But the more that the world rageth, and the more that iniquity overfloweth: the more ought we too mark well this text, and the counsel that is given us here by the holy Ghost. For surely now adays men are come too the full measure of all enormity, and there is no part of the world where a man may find single and sound dealing. In old time yet a man might have found some Nations, where the folk were not so crafty and malicious, nor so excessive in pomp and all kinds of pleasures, nor so far over the shoes in robbery, ⟨image 282⟩cruelty, and extortion. But now adays let a man go about everywhere, and he shall find that there is nothing but as a horrible water flood and confused turmoil of all wickedness. And therefore if Saint Paul have said, that the days were evil, when there was a hundred times more soundness than there is now adays:

And too prouoke vs the more theruntoo, he addeth, that vvee haue neede too redeeme the tyme, bycause the dayes are euill. Wherin he sheweth that wee cannot deuyze too abuze Gods grace so little, but it is a willfull lozing of the tyme, which wee cannot recouer afterward. Now then, let vs gather a breef summe of the things that are conteyned heere, and let vs begin at this poynt, that the dayes are euill, wherby Saint Paule dooth vs too wit, that wee shall fynd many lettes too keepe vs from comming vntoo God. For wee knowe wee bee hemmed in with so many corruptions, that euen they which are best mynded, shall stumble on the one syde, bee pulled backe on the other, and dyuers tymes stray quyte away. Now wee had neede of a singular inwoorking, too fyght in such wyse as wee may get the vpper hand of all the impedimentes that Satan castes afore vs, to plucke vs from our God, and to thrust vs quyte and cleane out of the way of saluation. And therefore this hath bin true in all ages, that forasmuch as men are alwayes froward of nature, and we be borne in sin: Satan holdeth vs as his prisoners. Agein, there is not that man among vs, which draweth not other men too naughtinesse. Moreouer, wee wote not scarsly how to open our eyes, but we shall see some one thing or other, that may vtterly ouerthrowe vs, and the diuell through his wylynesse applyeth all too his owne woorking, that vnlesse wee take good heede too his dooings, he marreth vs out of hand. But the more that the world rageth, and the more that iniquitie ouerfloweth: the more ought wee too marke well this text, and the counsell that is giuen vs heere by the holy Ghost. For surely now adayes men are come too the full measure of all enormite, and there is no part of the world where a man may fynd single and sound dealing. In old tyme yit a man myght haue found some Nations, where the folke were not so craftie and malicious, nor so excessiue in pomp and all kyndes of pleazures, nor so farre ouer the shooes in robberie,