Thirteen sermons of Master John Calvin, entreating of the free election of God in…Thirteene sermons of Maister Iohn Caluine, entreating of the free election of God in…

And above all these contemners of God, which are at this day advanced into states and dignities, it is well known how they flout us, and blear out their tongue, if men speak unto them of the gospel & it seemeth to them, that we are as mad men, which can not discern between good & evil. And why so? For they eat and drink they rise up, and go their way: yea the world doth so hold them, or rather Satan hath in such sort possessed them, that Heaven is nothing unto them, and they altogether forget everlasting life. We see this, and yet it is to no purpose to pursue it: For our Lord hath set before our eyes, that this is an horrible condemnation, when we fall into such blockishness, to prefer this life, which is nothing but a shadow before that eternity, to which God hath called us. For let us put the case, that we should live an hundred years after our death: & yet what is that? If we make comparison (as S. Paul saith) with this world, it is but a minute and a figure which passeth away, and in sum, but a moment.

And aboue all these contēners of God, which are at this day aduaunced into states and dignities, it is well knowen howe they floute vs, and bleare out their tongue, if men speake vnto them of the gospel & it seemeth to them, that we are as mad men, whiche can not discerne betweene good & euil. And why so? For they eate and drinke they rise vp, and goe their way: yea the worlde doth so holde them, or rather Sathan hath in such sorte possessed them, that Heauen is nothing vnto them, and they altogither forget euerlasting life. We see this, and yet it is to no purpose to pursue it: For our Lorde hath set before our eyes, that this is an horrible condemnation, when we fall into such blockishnesse, to preferre this life, which is nothing but a shadowe before that eternitie, to which God hath called vs. For let vs put the case, that we should liue an hundred yeeres after our death: & yet what is that? If wee make comparison (as S. Paule saith) with this worlde, it is but a minute and a figure which passeth away, and in summe, but a moment.

Now contrariwise of what weight ought our immortality to be with us, which is offered unto us in our Lord Jesus Christ, and whereof he hath so well certified us? And yet concerning this life, who is it that can promise us one day? For they who are well fed, they grow therein, and there cannot be a minute to uphold them: & specially intemperance choketh very many. And we see that men, the more they have wherewith to