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

but yet notwithstanding, the patient excuseth himself, saying, O Sir, my hart will not serve me too do it. If a sick man will needs drink, and in stead […] heat take cold, and be so unruly as he cannot be bridled, but refuseth all that is ministered too ⟨p. 264⟩him for his health, and plays the mad bedlam: he may well protest that he would fain be cured, but the flat contrary appeareth. Even so is it with them that resort unto God too pray him too govern them in such wise by his holy spirit, as they may be changed and forget all their lusts, and put them under foot: and yet in the mean while will needs continue and welter in them still. Thus ye see in effect what we have to bear in mind. Nevertheless it is certain that although we pray to God earnestly, and every of us strain himself to subdue his wicked affections: yet we shall not cease too have infirmities still howsoever the world go. I speak not of the hypocrites, I speak of the true children of God. For they that have profited most in all perfection, go still as it were limping unto Godward, neither do they what they would as S. Paul will add anon after, and as he showeth more at large in the vij. to the Romans. Nevertheless as soon as the faithful feel their disease, they seek the remedy of it in God, yea and they seek it earnestly & unfeignedly, and perceive that his succour surmounteth all their own lewd affections. According hereunto S. Paul saith, ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh. He saith not, that of all our life long Satan shall not tempt us to do any evil, nor that we shall not have store of provocations, for our flesh shall always have his stings to stir us up unto naughtiness. Therefore we shall be tempted to all vices: but yet shall we withstand them by Gods grace. And not without cause is this added: for if we were not warranted that God accepteth our service though it be faulty & we weak, & though we run not with such courage as were requisite: every of us should be as it were beaten down, and in the end we should fall into despair as it happeneth to divers, who upon the examining of their own lives, finding themselves so unperfect & still far off from God, think themselves not to have profited at all, and thereupon fall to chasing & fretting, & finally become stark mad.

but yet notwithstanding, the patient excuseth himselfe, saying, O Sir, my hart will not serue mee too doo it. If a sicke man will needes drinke, and in stead 〈…〉 heate take colde, and bee so vnruly as he cannot bee brydled, but refuseth all that is ministred too