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, a doctrine which ought throughly to be marked of us, for we see from whence the springhead of all the excess and wantonness, which do now reign, and have in all ages reigned in the world cometh, because that God is not obeyed, for if that were so, we should have a bridle to keep us in awe and in good order, so that we would suffer our selves to be ordered by the doctrine which is contained in the holy scripture. If we then would humble our selves and be subject to God as to our Master, all things should be aswell directed as we could possibly wish. But why do we not so? The world forsooth will not obey God as becometh it, neither will it he brought to this reason. Behold then the cause why we see all things so confused as they are. So it is that we are altogether inexcusable, seeing that our God so offereth him self unto us, & declareth unto us that if we will follow his word, that all things shall go well with us, that our way shall be pure and clean, and that our life shall be true perfectness it self. And when God giveth such a testimony unto his law, all mouths must be stopped, and we must be cast down headlong, when as we know that we thus rebelled against our God, who is always ready truly to guide us. And thus much for this. Moreover, if our affections be so contrary, that our lusts & affections be like wild beasts, that we cannot repress them: let us know that our God will give power and strength to his word that we may be joined with him, if so be that we will direct our selves to that mark. And to prove it to be so, he here speaketh especially of the corruptions of youth, which (as I have already declared) are more excessive and disordered then they are in the aged. But so it is that both great and small might very well be brought to this pass, to suppress their inordinate affections and lusts, if so be they would give that honour to God which unto him appertaineth, that is, if they would follow his word.

Loe here, a doctrine which ought throughly to be marked of vs, for wee see frō whence the springhead of all the excesse and wantonnes, which do nowe reigne, and haue in al ages reigned in the world commeth, bicause that God is not obeyed, for if that were so, we should haue a bridle to keepe vs in awe and in good order, so that we would suffer our selues to be ordred by the doctrine which is conteined in the holy scripture. If we thē would humble our selues and be subiect to God as to our Maister, all things should be aswell directed as wee could possibly wishe. But why do we not so? The world forsooth wil not obey God as becōmeth it, neither wil it he brought to this reason. Behold then the cause why we see all things so confused as they are. So it is that we are altogether inexcusable, seeing that our God so offreth him selfe vnto vs, & declareth vnto vs that if we will followe his worde, that all things shall go well with vs, that our way shalbe pure and cleane, and that our life shalbe true perfectnes it selfe. And whē God giueth such a testimonie vnto his law, al mouthes must be stopped, and we must be cast down hedlong, when as we know that we thus rebelled against our God, who is alwayes ready truedy to guide vs. And thus much for this. Moreouer, if our affections be so contrary, that our lustes & affections be like wilde beastes, that we cannot represse thē: let vs know that our God will giue power and strength to his word that we may be ioyned with him, if so be that wee will direct our selues to that marke. And to proue it to bee so, he here speaketh especially of the corruptions of youth, which (as I haue already declared) are more excessiue and disordered then they are in the aged. But so it is that both great and small might very wel be brought to this passe, to suppresse their inordinate affections and lustes, if so be they would giue that honour to God which vnto him apperteineth, that is, if they would follow his word.