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…

For maugre their beards will they nil they, they must feel themselves guilty before God. Now when this is set before us, it is not to the end that we should sleep in any such vice: but to the intent, that we knowing our selves to be subject unto it, should the rather seek for remedy. When Moses saith therefore that Abimilech made as if he had well acquitted himself towards Isaac (and we know the contrary by that which hath been rehearsed) it was not only to show that Abimilech was an hypocrite & a double man: but it was also to set a looking glass before our eyes, to the end we might know that there is not any one amongst us, which is not inclined to flatter himself, and who is not bent to bolster out an ill cause: although he were sufficiently ⟨p. 124⟩convinced to have offended, that yet nevertheless pride would not suffer us to submit our selves. Lo then Moses purpose and drift. So then, what have we to do? that every one gauge and sound himself to the bottom to find what is in him: and after we have duly examined our selves, we shall find that there is not any one of us that would not hide his faults, and that would not wrong his adversary, when we have any quarrel: and hereupon it is that we seek out goodly colours to excuse our selves, and starting holes & delays: & turn (as they say) black to white, and white into black, that we might justify our selves. Seeing therefore that we are subject to such an evil, let us fight against it. For it is not enough for us to feel our vice, but we must forsake it, & in forsaking it, we must yet resist it, albeit we can not altogether get the upper hand of it. And when we shall come to put this in practise, & shall have offended this man here, and that man there, let us not look upon men to blear our eyes: but let every man withdraw himself into his own secret, & say, Go to, what can I do now? It is true that I might justly do wrong unto mine adversary: for he hath offended me thus & thus: but notwithstanding am I innocent before God & his Angels? It is meet that I begin to judge my self. For although that I be a poor blind wretch, yet for all that I feel in my self that I have offended, & I cannot lie unto my self: & in the mean while will God be deceived? When I have cunningly dissembled, will not he ⟨image 133⟩find out the least drop for all that.

For maugre their beards wil they nil they, they must feele thēselues guilty before God. Nowe when this is set before vs, it is not to the ende that wee should sleepe in any such vice: but to the intent, that we knowing our selues to bee subiecte vnto it, should the rather seeke for remedie. When Moises saith therefore that Abimilech made as if he had wel acquited himselfe towards Isaack (and we knowe the contrary by that which hath beene rehearsed) it was not onely to shewe that Abimilech was an hypocrite & a double man: but it was also to set a looking glasse before our eyes, to the ende wee might knowe that there is not any one amongst vs, which is not inclyned to flatter himselfe, and who is not bent to boulster out an ill cause: although he were sufficiently