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…

Let us bethink our selves (will we say) for necessity will drive us too it. But now we see well the evilness of the days, that is to say, that all is against us, and although we were the diligentest and circumspectest in the world, yet shall we not fail too be taken •ardie with many things, and too find our selves hindered when we should serve God: and yet notwithstanding, all this passeth and slippeth away, and we mind it not at all. Therefore let us bethink our selves, and learn too redeem the time, that is too say, the mo occasions there be too provoke us too naughtiness, and too pull us away from God, the more let every of us enforce and strain himself too do good. For we be wont too take the corruptness of the time for a cloak too cover our sloth and unlustinesse withal, and so we bear our selves always on hand, that it is lawful for us too play the unthrifts among vuthriftes, as the proverb sayeth. If a man tell us that we must live indifferently and uprightly: how shall I do then, will every man say? A man cannot buy a pennyworth of apples without some deceit: and how then may I deal in wares or merchandise? Again, if a man tell us that we must live soberly and •tayedly,: yea, (say we) but who doth it? If a man speak too us of patience and mildness, and such other things: Is it not apparent (say we) that every man behaveth himself clean contrariwise? Shall I be all alone in the world? Lo how we make vice our buckler against God, & against all the warnings that are given us, as who should say, that because it is common, therefore it ought too serve us for an acquittance or discharge. But contrariwise it is said here, that we must take so much the more pain too redeem the time, and the ⟨p. 264⟩more that the devil laboureth to hinder us, & the more means and wiles that he hath too do it withal, the more must every of us employ himself manfully, and waken up all his wits and understanding, praying God too strengthen us, and too give power too resist him. Thus ye see that our redeeming of the time must not be by making of temporal (and worldly) gain, for in that behalf we need neither counsel nor encouragement, every man is too much inclined that way of his own nature, and our lusts are so fiery, as they will not suffer us too be slothful in that case.

Let vs bethinke our selues (will wee say) for necessitie will driue vs too it. But now wee see well the euilnesse of the dayes, that is to say, that all is ageinst vs, and although wee were the diligentest and circumspectest in the world, yit shall wee not fayle too bee taken ardie with many things, and too fynd our selues hindered when wee should serue God: and yit notwithstanding, all this passeth and slippeth away, and wee mynd it not at all. Therefore let vs bethinke our selues, and learne too redeeme the tyme, that is too say, the mo occasions there bee too prouoke vs too naughtinesse, and too pull vs away from God, the more let euery of vs inforce and streyne himselfe too doo good. For wee be woont too take the corruptnesse of the time for a cloke too couer our sloth and vnlustinesse withal, and so wee beare our selues alwayes on hand, that it is lawfull for vs too play the vnthriftes among vuthriftes, as the prouerb sayeth. If a man tell vs that wee must liue indifferently and vpryghtly: how shall I doo then, will euery man say? A man cannot buy a pennywoorth of apples without some deceyt: and how then may I deale in wares or marchaundyze? Agein, if a man tell vs that wee must liue soberly and tayedly,: yea, (say wee) but who dooth it? If a man speake too vs of pacience and myldnesse, and such other things: Is it not apparant (say wee) that euery man behaueth himselfe cleane contrariwyze? Shall I bee al alone in the world? Lo how wee make vyce our buckler ageinst God, & ageinst all the warnings that are giuen vs, as who should say, that bycause it is common, therfore it ought too serue vs for an acquittance or discharge. But contrariwyse it is sayd heere, that wee must take so much the more peyne too redeeme the tyme, and the