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…

Lo here, say I, in the first place how every man ought to bridle his nature, to the end to resist and withstand the vices and sins, whereunto he is inclined. And next, as every one having lets or occasions to cause them to exceed, they ought to keep so much the better watch over them selves. For, as I have already said, albeit that every of us is given more to one vice then to another, yet for all that, we are every of us contagiously infected with them all, & there is not that man which can exempt him self from the same. Now it is true in deed, that David here speaketh namely ⟨p. 41⟩of covetousness. And why so? Because it is a vice which breedeth exceeding many mischiefs. And it is not without cause, that S. Paul calleth it the root of all evil: For after that a man is once given to the pestilent covetousness of the goods of this world,¹ he maketh an Idol of his money, riches, and possessions. He is so violently carried away with them, as that he will never be satisfied. He is like unto a bottomless depth which never will be filled. And afterward it maketh him to be full of cruelty, having neither pity nor compassion of his neighbours, making neither conscience nor doubt to fall out with God and the world, so that he may have them, all shall be one to him. Let us note then, that if there be any vice which hindereth us from the serving of God, this is it: to wit, this covetous desire of getting worldly goods. Now David (after he hath spoken specially of covetousness) saith,

Loe here, say I, in the first place how euery man ought to bridle his nature, to the ende to resist and withstande the vices and sinnes, whereunto he is enclined. And next, as euery one hauing lettes or occasiōs to cause thē to exceede, they ought to keepe so much the better watche ouer them selues. For, as I haue already saide, albeit that euery of vs is giuen more to one vice then to another, yet for all that, we are euery of vs contagiously infected with them all, & there is not that man which can exempt him selfe from the same. Now it is true in deede, that Dauid here speaketh namely ⟨p. 41⟩of couetousnes. And why so? Bicause it is a vice which breedeth exceeding many mischiefes. And it is not without cause, that S. Paul calleth it the roote of all euill: For after that a man is once giuen to the pestilent couetousnes of the goodes of this world,