Sermons of M. John Calvin upon the Epistle of Saint Paul to the GalatiansSermons of M. Iohn Caluine vpon the Epistle of Saincte Paule to the Galathians

yet could he not love God as he ought to do, for it would behove all our wits to be employed in the love of him. But now let us mark if we cast not many vain looks when we open our eyes; or if that when we open our ears, we be not given too their much fond talk that tendeth ⟨p. 133⟩not to the honour of God, or which is not utterly void of sin if at leastwise it be not wicked. But how soever the case stand, we should so dedicate our wits wholly unto God, as that we should not think upon any thing wherein he should not be glorified. And where shall one be found that doth so? [No where] but (which worse is) besides that we have our wits far haled and drawn away from the love of God: we see that they tickle us daily unto naughtiness, and that we do not so soon stir a hand but it is to put it too many things of no value. As much is to be said of our feet, of our eyes, and of our ears. Again, what a dungeon is there in mans hart? what a number of croaked lusts are there, so snarled one within another, as there is nothing to be found among them but confusion? In so much that it is upon very good cause that Jeremiah crieth out:¹ O what a maze is the heart of man, wherein there is neither end nor measure to be seen, so that although a man should sound and gauge him self never so deep, yet it is not possible that he should attain too the knowledge of the hundred part of his naughtiness. There is none but only God that can be judge of it. So then, let us mark well, that although God have begotten us again by his holy spirit, and that we strain our selves to the uttermost to serve & honour him: yet must we needs come far short of the end, and be still but on our way thitherward, yea and go always halting. And moreover beside our slowness, we meet with many falls, and many shrewd rushes, we limp on the one foot, and stumble on the other, and divers times we tumble over and over. Lo what our life is. Therefore by the Law we see we be all of us accursed, yea even when there is no many fest sin in us. For (as I have declared already) if there were no more but this, that no man dischargeth him self of the full performance of the Law:

yet coulde he not loue God as he ought to doo, for it would behoue all our wits to be imployed in the loue of him. But now let vs marke if wee cast not many vayne lookes when wee open our eyes; or if that when wee open oure eares, wee bee not giuen too their much fonde talke that tendeth