The lectures or daily sermons, of that reverend divine, D. John Calvin, pastor of…The lectures or daily sermons, of that reuerend diuine, D. Iohn Caluine, pastor of…

To childishly therefore and far are the Sophisters deceived, when they say that works, morally good, do please God, or be preparatives unto grace, or deservers of salvation. But how may it be that a work should not please God, and yet tend to his glory? I answer, that this very well agreeth, neither is there here any contrariety, which easily cannot be accorded. For God after an accidental manner, as I have already said, applieth those things to his glory, which of them selves (I say, of them selves, that is in respect of men) are very corrupt. So also in the ⟨image 38⟩Papacy the name of a Christian serveth to the glory of God, for always some remnant of Christianity remaineth. For how cometh it to pass, that in this time the light of the gospel hath appeared out, when as yet at the least in few places true piety hath been restored? Forsooth, because the Lord never suffered true Religion to be quite extinguished or quenched, in that place where yet it hath been corrupted. In the Papacy therefore, Baptism, the very name aswell of Christ as of the Church, Finally, A certain form of godliness: All these of them selves were unprofitable altogether, but yet after an accident all sort, are of force, even as I have said. But if we consider aswell the Sacrificers, as also the common sort of people, we shall find, that they do nothing but pervert the worship of God. When as rashly and like a hodgepodge, they join their superstitions and inventions to the word of God, no sincerity is observed. When therefore they thus confound heaven and earth together, nothing else do they but provoke upon them selves the wrath of God. Now therefore we know why Jonah saith, that the Shipmen and Passengers offered Sacrifices to God. But yet this also is to be remembered that I lately said, this Sacrifice to be a sign of the worship of God. For from the beginning, always this opinion remained in the hearts of all men, that Sacrifices were not to be offered, but to God only. And profane men in all ages none otherwise deemed of Sacrifices, but even that by them, they showed forth their Religion toward the Gods.

To chyldishly therefore and farre are the Sophisters deceyued, when they saye that workes, morallie good, do please God, or be preparatiues vnto grace, or deseruers of saluation. But howe maye it be that a worke shoulde not please God, and yet tende to his glorie? I aunswere, that this verie well agréeth, neither is there here any contrarietie, which easilie cannot be accorded. For God after an accidentall manner, as I haue already sayde, applyeth those things to his glorie, which of them selues (I saye, of them selues, that is in respect of men) are verie corrupt. So also in the