Two and twenty sermons of Master John Calvin In which sermons is most religiously…Two and twentie sermons of Maister Iohn Caluin In which sermons is most religiously…

Even so, when as we would follow God, let us understand that we can not do it without great conflict: to wit, until such time as all our passions are mortified. For out heart will never place it self rightly, until such time as our nature be brought under. True it is, that we must not serve God either by force or constrainedly. Yea, but let us see how we do serve him, Are we thereunto inclined as of our selves? Alas, it is nothing so, until such time as ⟨p. 40⟩he hath renewed in us our mind and will. For so long as we remain in this our nature, all our senses are stirred up to do evil: so that, as I have before said, we shall never be able to serve God, in captiving our affections, and holding them in, as prisoners: to the end we be not letted to follow that which God hath commanded us.

Euen so, when as wee would followe God, let vs vnderstand that we can not do it without great conflict: to wit, vntill such time as all our passions are mortified. For out heart will neuer place it selfe rightly, vntill such time as our nature be brought vnder. True it is, that wee must not serue God either by force or constraynedly. Yea, but let vs see howe wee doe serue him, Are wee thereunto enclined as of our selues? Alas, it is nothing so, vntill such tyme as ⟨p. 40⟩he hath renued in vs our minde and will. For so long as we remaine in this our nature, all our senses are stirred vp to doe euill: so that, as I haue before said, wee shall neuer bee able to serue God, in captiuing our affections, and holding them in, as prysoners: to the end wee be not letted to followe that which God hath commaunded vs.

Let us now come to the second point. Because that some vices are greater then other some, and sithens that every man may be given more to one vice then to an other: let us keep good watch, and ward, and stand upon our guard. If there be any man that feeleth a vice to reign in him self, let him understand and say, lo a combat even ready at hand: and so let every other man do the like. As how? If a man have a great number of servants under him, he will appoint every one his task: he will appoint to one man this thing, to another that thing, and every of them must bestow him self accordingly as he is appointed. Even so is it in an army: Some are appointed to wait upon the ordinance, some other are harquebusiers, some are horsemen, and other some armed pikes, or otherwise. Now every of these must have regard whereunto to apply him self, and the same is looked for at his hand. Even so it is with us, when as any vice warreth against us: for it is as much, as if God addressed us to be exercised therewith, to the end we might fight against it. No doubt, there is not that man, which hath not in him self some one root of all kind of wickedness, and this is a bottomless pit wherein we are all confounded. But yet, as I have before said, there are vices which more plentifully do abound in one more then in another. Every man therefore ought to have great regard, whereunto his nature is most inclined, and so much the more enforce him self to resist all those temptations, wherewith he may be most crushed and shaken. And that which is more, we must have respect to those wicked affections and thoughts, which might in any wise deceive us by occasions offered us.