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

namely, slow and ever lazy to bestir our selves about that which is good. Nay, I say yet further, that albeit God hath affectioned & moved us with some desire thereto, albeit he governeth us with his holy spirit, the thing will not be over easy. For if he leaveth us to remain such as we are, we shall not only be slow herein, but we shall draw clean backward from that which he willeth us: if he call us unto him self, we shall recoil and flee back from him: yea, we shall be forced to follow that which is evil, so far shall we be from being able to desire any manner of way, that which is good. But note we that which we have already touched, that although God hath given us some good affection, albeit he hath set us in some good way, yet are we still slothful, and loth to remove one foot: whereas a minute of time ought to serve, we had need of an hour, we winch & fling in such sort when we are put forward: and if happily we move one steppe, either we stumble, or else we start back two paces for one, or we take so grievous falls as it is pity to behold. So, it is not without good cause, that God sayeth here, Take heed ye do that I command you: as if he said, True it is, that my law is given you that you should put it in practise, and to yield obedience thereunto, but think ye not, that this is so easy to be done. Therefore, let every one prepare him self with such diligence to walk after my commandments, that ye think and meditate on them, that ye be diligent to bestow all pain in them, that ye take a full taste and savour of them, that ye be vigilant to stand on your watch, for fear that you be not turned aside: be ye therefore attentive and heedful herein. This we see briefly, that our Lord exhorteth us in this place seriously to travel and bestir our selves, when question is of walking under his obedience. And why? For the things he requireth of us, are not so easily performed. ⟨image 120⟩And moreover, we are so evil disposed, as is lamentable to behold, that except we be pricked on, and driven thereto, as by force, we can not set one foot forward as we ought in our duty. If is needful therefore, that we awaken our selves better, to be more diligent and attentive, and to stand always more warily on our guard, to accomplish that which our Lord commandeth us.

namelie, slowe and euer lazie to bestirre our selues about that which is good. Nay, I say yet further, that albeit God hath affectioned & moued vs with some desire thereto, albeit he gouerneth vs with his holie spirit, the thing will not be ouer easie. For if he leaueth vs to remaine such as we are, wee shall not onelie be slow herein, but we shall drawe cleane backward from that which he willeth vs: if he call vs vnto him selfe, we shall recule and flee backe from him: yea, we shalbe forced to followe that which is euill, so farre shall we be from being able to desire any manner of way, that which is good. But note we that which wee haue alreadie touched, that although God hath giuen vs some good affection, albeit he hath set vs in some good way, yet are we still slouthfull, and loth to remoue one foote: whereas a minute of time ought to serue, we had need of an houre, we winch & fling in such sort when we are put forward: and if happilie we moue one steppe, either we stumble, or else we start backe two paces for one, or we take so greuous falles as it is pitie to behold. So, it is not without good cause, that God saieth here, Take heede ye do that I commaund you: as if he saide, True it is, that my lawe is giuen you that you should put it in practise, and to yeelde obedience therevnto, but thinke ye not, that this is so easie to be done. Therefore, let euerie one prepare him selfe with such diligence to walke after my commaundementes, that ye thinke and meditate on them, that ye be diligent to bestowe all paine in them, that ye take a full tast and sauour of them, that yee bee vigilent to stand on your watch, for feare that you bee not turned aside: be ye therefore attentiue and heedefull herein. This wee see brieflie, that our Lorde exhorteth vs in this place seriouslie to trauell and bestirre our selues, when question is of walking vnder his obedience. And why? For the things he requireth of vs, are not so easily performed.