The sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle of S. Paul too the…The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the…

Now then, that this is a high mystery, every man is able to judge of himself. When we have debated never so much, and scanned the matter in our hearts, is there any of us that can comprehend how we be knit too our Lord Jesus Christ, and how we be made all one with him, so as we can assure and warrant our selves, that we shall by that mean be partakers of Gods glory, and that even at this day we live in our Lord Jesus Christ: According too this saying of his,¹ be of good cheer, for as I live, so shall you also. Can this (say I) enter into so small a room as our sensual reason is? No surely. And that is the cause why a number of men cannot admit this point, that we be the flesh of Jesus Christ, and bone of his bones, but content themselves with their own imaginations, which is an abasing of Gods grace, which Saint Paul was not able too express, but rather showed us that it ought too ravish our wits too wonder at it. Many then may happen too have a roving, and as it were a heathenish imagination, that we be knit unto our Lord Jesus Christ, that is too say, that we be saved by his grace. But the Scripture goeth further: and though there were no more but this saying, That it is a great mystery: yet let us beware of limiting it after our own fancy, for it were all one as if we would make Saint Paul a liar. All such as despise this spiritual conjunction which we have with our Lord Jesus Christ, would show that there is no such secret nor wonderful power of God, nor aught else, as we hear spoken of here. And the holy Ghost useth such speech, too humble us, and afterward •oo exalt us again. Therefore we must on the one side confess that all the wisdom and wit which we have, doth fail us in that behalf: and afterward rise up again, for that we hear our Lord Jesus Christ call us too him, and tell us that we be so knit unto him, that he hath not any thing of his own, which he maketh not common too us, and whereof he will not have us too be partakers. Therefore if we have any contrary motions in our selves, and it come into our heads too say, how is it possible that our Lord Jesus Christ who is in heaven, should nourish us with his own substance, so as his body should be our meat, and his blood our drink? I say, if we fall into such fancies:

Now then, that this is a hygh misterie, euery man is able to iudge of himselfe. When wee haue debated neuer so much, and scanned the matter in our hartes, is there any of vs that can comprehend how wee bee knit too our Lord Iesus Christ, and how wee bee made all one with him, so as wee can assure and warrant our selues, that wee shall by that meane bee parttakers of Gods glorie, and that euen at this day wee liue in our Lord Iesus Christ: According too this saying of his,