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 the only mean too do it, is too understand that Satan's thrusting of us down after that sort, is no sufficient discharge for us before God: for if we resort unto him, he will give us armour and weapon too hold out the battle withal, until we have gotten the victory. But howsoever the case stand, let it not grieve us too lay away the things that we liked of, and too hold our wicked affections as it were imprisoned, and then will it be easy for us too follow the thing that Saint Paul sayeth here, that is too wit, too be watchful and heedful that we walk advisedly, even as Wyzefolk, and not as fools. We have seen already heretofore, that if we profit in Gods school as we ought too do, we shall have a sure rule, and cannot be deceived nor seduced. For God knew what we have need of, and he hath not forgotten too show us any thing. And therefore Saint Paul presupposeth that although we be blind wretches, although we be overwhelmed with the darkness of this world, although the devil have many subtleties & wiles to wind about us: yet if we be good scholars too Godward, and suffer our selves too be ruled by him and his word: we shall have sufficient wisdom, and we shall not be able too say, that we offended unawares: for God is forecasting enough too rule our whole life, at leastwise if we hearken too all that he saith, and yield our selves easy and willing too be taught. If it be so: then may we surely be wise, as Saint Paul requireth.

Now the only meane too doo it, is too vnderstand that Satans thrusting of vs downe after that sort, is no sufficient discharge for vs before God: for if wee resort vntoo him, he will giue vs armour and weapon too hold out the battell withall, vntill wee haue gotten the victorie. But howsoeuer the cace stand, let it not greeue vs too lay away the things that wee lyked of, and too hold our wicked affections as it were imprizoned, and then will it bee easy for vs too followe the thing that Saint Paule sayeth heere, that is too wit, too bee watchfull and heedfull that wee walk aduyzedly, euen as VVyzefolk, and not as fooles. Wee haue seene alredy heretoofore, that if wee profit in Gods schoole as wee ought too doo, wee shall haue a sure rule, and cannot bee deceyued nor seduced. For God knew what wee haue neede of, and he hath not forgotten too shewe vs any thing. And therfore Saint Paul presuppozeth that although we be blynd wretches, although we be ouerwhelmed with the darknesse of this world, although the diuell haue manie suttleties & wyles to wynd about vs: yit if wee bee good schollers too Godward, and suffer our selues too bee ruled by him and his woord: wee shall haue sufficient wisdome, and wee shall not bee able too say, that we offended vnwares: for God is forecasting ynough too rule our whole lyfe, at leastwyse if wee herken too all that he sayth, and yeeld our selues easy and willing too bee taught. If it bee so: then may wee surely bee wyse, as Saint Paule requyreth.