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 now on the contrary part he addeth, that we must rather be filled with the Spirit. For they that burst themselves so with eating and drinking, and keep no measure, till they can no more, do well show that they have no feeling of the kingdom of God, ne never tasted what the heavenly life is. This remedy therefore is right convenient too correct all the excesses and superfluities that reign among heathenish men, and such as never conceived any inkling of Gods grace and spiritual benefits. Like as if a man that were empty, should devour & swallow up all without chawing, it were rather an overlaying of his stomach, than a taking of sustenance and repast: and therefore if another man saw that vice in him, he would restrain him: even so is it with all such as have inordinate lusts: it is a token that they be too empty. And whereof? Of faith, of the fear of God, and of the joy which is in the holy Ghost: and that they know not a whit of Gods goodness and favour towards them, nor of the grace which he showeth us in our Lord Jesus Christ. For had we once our bellies full of such victuals, surely we would not play the Wolves in ravening, but we would keep measure. That then is the cause why Saint Paul saith, that we must be filled with the holy Ghost. As if he should say, that the despisers of God, and such as have none other religion but too live at ease here, and too have all their delights and pleasures, are excessively full, beyond all reason and measure. And that is a defiling of Gods benefits, and a despising of the order of nature, as I said afore. Now then if ye be so sharp set too know what God is, and what it is too profit in his word: come your ways to devour it, as they do which have eaten no meat a two days afore: be not afraid of eating too much of that food, for it will never burst our souls. Therefore let us hardily cram our selves with the gifts of Gods spirit, and with his Ghostly benefits, whereby he feedeth us in the hope of the heavenly life: for in so doing we cannot do amiss: but we cannot give head too our lusts, in taking food for the body, but there will by and by follow ⟨image 289⟩some evil and offence. The matter which we have in effect too remember upon this strain, is, that all they which glut themselves after that fashion, and cannot satisfy themselves but by playing the beasts:

And now on the contrarie part he addeth, that vvee must rather be filled vvith the Spirit. For they that burst themselues so with eating and drinking, and keepe no measure, tyll they can no more, doo well shewe that they haue no feeling of the kingdome of God, ne neuer tasted what the heauenly lyfe is. This remedie therefore is ryght conuenient too correct all the excesses and superfluities that reigne among heathenish men, and such as neuer conceyued any incling of Gods grace and spirituall benefytes. Lyke as if a man that were emptie, should deuoure & swallow vp al without chawing, it were rather an ouerlaying of his stomack, than a taking of sustenance and repast: and therefore if another man sawe that vyce in him, he would restreyne him: euen so is it with all such as haue inordinate lustes: it is a token that they bee too emptie. And wherof? Of fayth, of the feare of God, and of the ioy which is in the holy Ghost: and that they know not a whit of Gods goodnesse and fauour toowardes them, nor of the grace which he sheweth vs in our Lord Iesus Christ. For had we once our bellyes full of such vittelles, surely we would not play the Wolues in rauening, but wee would keepe meaure. That then is the cause why Saint Paule sayth, that wee must bee filled with the holy Ghost. As if he should say, that the despyzers of God, and such as haue none other religion but too lyue at ease heere, and too haue all their delyghtes and pleasures, are excessiuely full, beyond all reason and measure. And that is a defyling of Gods benefytes, and a despizing of the order of nature, as I sayd afore. Now then if yee bee so sharpe set too knowe what God is, and what it is too profit in his woord: come your wayes to deuoure it, as they doo which haue eaten no meate a twoo dayes afore: bee not afrayd of eating too much of that foode, for it will neuer burst our soules. Therefore let vs hardily cram our selues with the giftes of Gods spirit, and with his Ghostly benefytes, wherby he feedeth vs in the hope of the heauenly lyfe: for in so dooing wee cannot doo amisse: but wee cannot giue head too our lustes, in taking foode for the bodie, but there will by and by followe