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…

Here it verily seemeth (as we have before said) that David bringeth in a most manifest sentence, yea, known even unto the simplest: to wit, that the word of God is pure and clean, without spot and blemish. But what? let us see a little whether we put this purity in practise or ⟨image 158⟩not, alas, we are far from it. For even then we may say the word of God too be pure and without spot, when as without any gainsaying we only trust in him, and that we have a true certainty of our salvation, because he hath once stretched forth his hand unto us, and promised never too fail us. When then we shall have such a confidence in God that we may boldly walk through death, and the very gulf of hell: that in seeing the bottomless pits open too swallow us up, we should not doubt of our safety, since that we are in the hand of God: lo how the word of God shall be pure unto us. But now are we all in a clean contrary vain. And from whence cometh this? It is because we are full of infinite filthiness and pollutions: to be short, there is nothing but stench in us, and all our senses are defiled. Let us first begin at our eyes, and we shall have such a number of filthy troublesome and glimpsing gloatings: to wit, such a number of vanities which hinder us too know the purity that is in the word of God, as lo we have already lost one of our senses. Afterward, we are deprived of our hearing, because our ears are so filled with such trifling yea and perverse matters, that we can give no ear unto God, or else, that which entereth in at one ear, goeth out at another, as we say. Now if this be already a great vice in us, to be so slack as to receive but one good lesson, the second is no whit less, that when we shall have gotten even a very little, it shall incontinent so melt away from us, as that we shall never think more of it. We see how jolly and frisking our feet and hands are, when as we hear any talk of ribaldry and filthiness, and altogether dull and senseless when any speech is of virtue and godliness. There is never a finger in our hands, but will be as good as a razor, to cut even to the quick, if any talk shall be had to offend the majesty of God. And in the mean while we shall not find one man that will once lift him self up too do any good.

Here it verily seemeth (as we haue before saide) that Dauid bringeth in a most manifest sentēce, yea, knowne euen vnto the simplest: to wit, that the word of God is pure and cleane, without spot and blemishe. But what? let vs see a little whether wee putte this puritie in practize or