Sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the.X.Commandments of the Law, given of GodSermons of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the.X.Commandementes of the Lawe, geuen of God

For the devil hath sought in such sort to cover and hide this precept, that a man should not know the intent and meaning of God, but that one should lightly content himself, to condemn only those evil concupiscences for sin, which appeared manifestly, and whereof a man were plainly convicted. So that many have restrained this word of concupiscence to those evil affections and desires, which import a resolute will and full consent. Now this is against the natural sense and meaning of Moses: and yet is this a doctrine fully concluded on in papistry. Although the Papists cannot deny, that to be pricked and provoked with an evil and wicked desire, is a damnable vice, and which proceedeth from original sin, and from this corruption ⟨p. 87⟩which we draw from our father Adam: yet they imagine that after baptism this is no more a sin. As if such a fantasy come into the mind of man, to doubt of the promises of God, to murmur against him, to be angry with him: when a man shall be afflicted, if it come into his fantasy to accuse God of injustice and cruelty, this is not a sin say the Papists. Neither are these of the rudest & ignorantest sort among them which speak thus, but this is a general resolution & doctrine universally concluded on in all their devilish Synagogues. There is not a Synagogue among them, where this hath not been received as an article of faith: namely, that a man being provoked and stirred up with some wicked desire sinneth not, that if he be tempted in himself to commit murder, to empoison any, to commit fornication: and briefly, to be guilty of all the crimes and enormities in the world: if so that he consent and assent not thereto, (for lo the words which they use) that is to say, if he resolve not himself herein, to say, I will put in practise my wicked conceit, and that he stay not himself hereon to please himself in this wicked affection, all this is no sin. This is, say they, but to exercise us in combat and fight against sin, and we then declare that we are valiant champions, and that sin beareth not rule over us, or reigneth in us.

For the diuell hath sought in such sort to couer and hide this precept, that a man should not knowe the intent and meaning of God, but that one should lightlie content himselfe, to condemne onelie those euill concupiscences for sinne, which appeared manifestly, and whereof a man were plainly conuicted. So that many haue restrained this word of concupiscence to those euill affections and desires, which importe a resolute will and full consent. Now this is against the natural sense and meaning of Moses: and yet is this a doctrine fullie concluded on in papistrie. Although the Papists cannot denie, that to be pricked and prouoked with an euil and wicked desire, is a damnable vice, and which procedeth from originall sinne, and from this corruption