Thou shalt receive here (Christian Reader) these few Sermons of Master John Calvin, for thy benefit, if thou wilt diligently read them without a prejudicate mind. Where, in the first three, thou shalt find how Abram delivered his nephew Lot from the hands of those which had taken him prisoner, and wherein also is handled who they are that ought to take war in hand, and how far they ought to proceed therein. In the next four is handled the doctrine of justification and salvation, by Faith only: whereby such as are led away by a false opinion of their good works and free will, may greatly profit themselves, and lay fast hold upon Jesus Christ alone, for their righteousness and sanctification, knowing how greatly these two graces must be distinguished and not ⟨image 4⟩confused, and that although they be never so closely tied and linked together, yet whosoever he is that will be said to be reputed to be righteous and acceptable before God, by the benefit of his only beloved Son, and in the mean while have no care nor conscience, ne yet will show any sign and token of the amendment of his life, and live in an holy conversation, that man I say must needs divide them, and cut in sunder the inseparable bond of them, & as much as in him lieth, striveth to dismember Jesus Christ, who by his righteousness, having made us good trees, doth also sanctify us, to cause us bear & bring forth good fruit. In the last three, there is handled Abraham's obedience in the sacrificing of his son Isaac, which was a wonderful trial, so that in this thou mayest see that Abraham who is by the spirit of God named the father of the faithful, was all the course of his life marvellously tried. And therefore as many as will be indeed the children of faithful Abraham, must walk in his steppes and abide many hard trials all their life long, except it shall please the Lord in great mercy to forbear them. Let us therefore beseech the Lord of all mercy, in the name of this great mediator, by whom alone we have access unto the throne ⟨image 4⟩of grace, daily to purge us more and more, to the end, that by his holy spirit we may bring forth more and better fruit, then we have yet heretofore done, that it may all serve for his glory, and the edification of his whole Church.
THou shalt receiue here (Christiā Reader) these fewe Sermons of Maister Iohn Caluin, for thy benefit, if thou wilt diligently read them without a preiudicate mind. Where, in the first three, thou shalt finde how Abram deliuered his nephew Lot from the hands of those which had taken him prisoner, and wherein also is handled who they are that ought to take warre in hand, and how farre they ought to proceed therein. In the next foure is handled the doctrine of iustification and saluation, by Faith onely: whereby such as are ledde away by a false opinion of their good workes and frree will, may greatly profit themselues, and lay fast hold vpon Iesus Christ alone, for their righteousnes and sanctfication, knowing how greatly these two graces must bee distingu•shed and not ⟨image 4⟩confused, and that although they bee neuer so closely tied and linked togither, yet whosoeuer he is that will be said to be reputed to be righteous and acceptable before God, by the benefit of his onely beloued sonne, and in the meane while haue no care nor conscience, ne yet will shew any signe and token of the amendment of his life, and liue in an holy conu•rsation, that man I say must needs diuide them, and cut in sunder the inseperable bond of them, & as much as in him lieth, striueth to dismember Iesus Christ, who by his righteousnes, hauing made vs good trees, doth also sanctifie vs, to cause vs beare & bring forth good fruit. In the last three, there is hādled Abrahās obedience in the sacrificing of his son Isahac, which was a wōderfull trial, so that in this thou maist see that Abraham who is by the spirit of God named the father of the faithfull, was all the course of his life maruellously tried. And therfore as many as will be indeed the children of faithful Abraham, must walke in his steppes and abide many hard trials all their life long, except it shall please the Lord in great mercy to forbeare them. Let vs therfore beseech the Lord of all mercy, in the name of this great mediator, by whom alone we haue accesse vnto the throne ⟨image 4⟩of grace, daily to purge vs more and more, to the end, that by his holie spirit we may bring foorth more and better fruit, then we haue yet heretofore dene, that it may all serue for his glory, and the edification of his whole Church.
