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

Now I grant it is true, that the faithful show well that the spirit of God reigneth in them, when they repel and beat back such temptations, when they bridle and captive themselves so, when they resist and withstand such things, knowing that they are contrary unto God, and that he condemneth them. It is certain that hereby it is showed, that God hath given us victory over sin, and that the virtue and power of his spirit abideth in us, and that we are stout and valiant champions to bid battle against Satan. But this is not to say, that we are exempted and freed from all fault, and that we may so pluck out of us all sin, and ransom our selves so fully, as if it might not stain and spot us no longer. Alas, we are far wide from this. For on the one side it is true, that we have great cause to praise God, that he bestoweth this grace on us by his holy spirit, to surmount & overcome all wicked affections. But in the mean time, we ought to bewail our selves, knowing that we are on our part overweak, and that if he take not pity on us, forasmuch as we have within us an evil and wicked conscience, which is to provoke his vengeance against us, we should well deserve to be thrown down of him into the bottomless ⟨image 92⟩pit of hell. But let us note how God would here open and discover the shame and reproach of the Papists, and how he would show that the greatest Clerks among them, are more rude and ignorant than the poor unbelievers which never heard one word of the holy scripture. And why? For let us consider of that which is contained in the law. It is said, that the sum of the law is, That we love God with all our heart, with all our mind, with all our understanding, with all the faculties and powers we have. If it were said, Thou shalt love God with all thine heart, a man might with some colour conclude, that there is no sin, but when the will is certain and resolute. For the heart in the Scripture, although it signify sometime the understanding, yet is it taken for the will. Now then, one might use this cavil:¹ It is said, That we must love God with all our heart,² if so be then our will be not contrary: well, it is enough, we have quited our selves before God.

Now I graunt it is true, that the faithfull shew well that the spirit of God reigneth in them, when they repell and beate backe such temptations, when they bridle and captiue themselues so, when they resist and withstand such thinges, knowing that they are contrarie vnto God, and that he condemneth them. It is certeine that hereby it is shewed, that God hath geuen vs victorie ouer sinne, and that the vertue and power of his spirit abideth in vs, and that we are stoute and valiaunt champions to bid battell against Sathan. But this is not to say, that we are exempted and freed from all fault, and that we may so plucke out of vs all sinne, and ransome our selues so fullie, as if it might not staine and spot vs no longer. Alas, we are farre wide from this. For on the one side it is true, that we haue great cause to praise God, that he bestoweth this grace on vs by his holy spirit, to surmount & ouercome all wicked affections. But in the meane time, we ought to bewaile our selues, knowing that we are on our part ouerweake, and that if he take not pitie on vs, forasmuch as we haue within vs an euill and wicked conscience, which is to prouoke his vengeaunce against vs, we should well deserue to be throwen downe of him into the bottomlesse