Four sermons of Master John Calvin entreating of matters very profitable for our time,…Foure sermons of Maister Iohn Caluin entreating of matters very profitable for our time,…

The Prophet meaneth that the name of Zion, shall be so Noble and Honourable, that every one shall desire too be received there for a Citizen. For he speaketh of the principal benefit, and of a thing the most too be wished for that ever could happen. The meaning therefore is thus: ⟨image 65⟩when God shall take account of his people, or shall enrol them, the greatest benefit and honour that he can do unto his best beloved, shall be too account them for Citizens of Zion, rather then of any other City. For this shall be a greater dignity, to have some corner among the common people of the Church, then to be greatly esteemed or too rule in any other place. Notwithstanding the Prophet admonisheth us, from whence it is that such a benefit proceedeth, that they which were strangers should so suddenly be brought into the Church: to wit of the free gift of God. And in deed they which are the slaves of Satan and of sin can never get by their own diligence any such title and right to be Citizens of heaven. It is therefore God only which distributeth according to his own good pleasure, peoples in their orders, & severeth them one from the other, as it seemeth good unto him: forasmuch as the condition is equal and alike in all by nature. The enrolment whereof he speaketh here, is too be understood of the calling whereby God declareth who are those that he hath chosen. For although that he hath written his children in the book of life, before the creation of the world, yet notwithstanding he solemnly setteth them down in his register, when he giveth them the mark of his adoption, calling them to his trueth and renewing them by his spirit.