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…

True it is, that in all evil, we are therein too too puissant and strong, and so diligent in it as in nothing more: to be short, there is not that he, which is not therein too too able: But when we mean to walk according to the commandments of God, we are not able once to remove a finger: our arms and legs shall be clean broken: to be short, we are not only weak in this, but also utterly dead therein.

True it is, that in all euill, wee are therein too too puissaunt and strong, and so diligent in it as in nothing more: to be short, there is not that hee, which is not therein too too able: But when wee meane to walke according to the commaundementes of God, wee are not able once to remoue a finger: our armes and legges shalbe cleane broken: to be short, wee are not onely weake in this, but also vtterly dead therein.

The Papists will confess, that men are weak, and not able to satisfy the law of God, except they be aided: and think it sufficient enough, if God give them a sign to aid their weakness, as if a man should reach his hand to a young infant, and say unto him, come hither my pretty child, and he cometh, and the other maketh semblant as though he would take him by the hand to lead him, & yet suffereth him to go alone by himself. Lo how the Papists have diminished the graces of GOD. But contrariwise, the scripture telleth, us that ⟨image 47⟩we are as dead men, to wit, that there is in us no strength nor ability at all. And therefore David desireth to be quickened in the way of the Lord. As if he should have said, O Lord, my life is altogether given to wickedness. For all my power and strength bendeth and displayeth it self thereto. Even so, O Lord, since thou grantest unto me a clean contrary kind of life: to wit, that I endeavour my self to serve thee, grant me now, O Lord, that I be earnest and fervent, where before I was very slow and dull, yea, even altogether weak and impotent. Now he goeth on and sayeth:

The Papistes will confesse, that men are weake, and not able to satisfie the lawe of God, except they be ayded: and thinke it sufficient enough, if God giue them a signe to ayde their weakenesse, as if a man shoulde reache his hande to a young infant, and saye vnto him, come hether my prety childe, and hee commeth, and the other maketh semblāt as though he would take him by the hād to leade him, & yet suffereth him to go alone by himselfe. Loe howe the Papistes haue diminished the graces of GOD. But contrariwise, the scripture telleth, vs that