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…

Hereupon S. Paul telleth us, that God hath accepted us in his well-beloved. Seeing then that our Lord Jesus Christ is received of God his father too be the beloved, not only in his own person, but also in respect of the love that is extended too all the members of his body: by that means we be called home again, and God embraceth us for his children, whereas erst we were his enemies and utterly hated of him. But howsoever the world go, we must always come back too the election that we have spoken of before. For the grace that is communicated too us by our Lord Jesus Christ, doth issue likewise out of the same spring. Thereupon going forward with the matter that I have touched already, he showeth us how great need we have too be well-beloved in Jesus Christ. For if it were not proved too our faces, we would never grant (I mean unfeignedly) that we be beholden too God for all things. For we be always labouring too advance our selves some way or other, and every of us seeketh how he may reserve somewhat too himself, though it be but the mountenance of a pins point. But contrariwise S. Paul telleth us, that God must be fain too love us out of our selves, and that if he like well of us, it must not be in respect of our own selves. And why? For we be prisoners and bondslaves of sin, we be held down under the yoke and tyranny of Satan, and finally we be shut up in the bondage of death, till we be ransomed by our Lord Jesus Christ. Now then we see that the sum of this lesson is, that men are admonished too depart out of themselves, and too seek their salvation in Gods only goodness, even by holding the mean that is showed us here, which is too resort too our Lord Jesus Christ. For there are two evil extremities whereof we must beware.¹ The one is, that in coming too our Lord Jesus Christ, we must not imagine that there is any worthiness in us, why he should make us partakers of his benefits. And how may that vice be corrected? Even by being led too Gods free election.

Heeruppon S. Paule telleth vs, that God hath accepted vs in his welbeloued. Seing then that our Lord Iesus Christ is receyued of God his father too bee the beloued, not only in his owne person, but also in respect of the loue that is extended too all the members of his bodie: by that meanes wee bee called home agein, and God imbraceth vs for his children, wheras erst wee were his enemyes and vtterly hated of him. But howsoeuer the world go, wee must alwayes come backe too the election that wee haue spoken of before. For the grace that is communicated too vs by our Lord Iesus Christ, dothe issewe lykewyse out of the same spring. Theruppon going foreward with the matter that I haue touched alredie, he sheweth vs howe greate neede wee haue too bee welbeloued in Iesus Christ. For if it were not proued too our faces, wee woold neuer graunt (I meane vnfeynedly) that wee bee beholden too God for all things. For wee bee alwayes laboring too aduaunce our selues some way or other, and euery of vs seeketh how he may reserue somewhat too himself, though it bee but the mountenance of a pinnes poynt. But contrariwyze S. Paule telleth vs, that God must be fayne too loue vs out of our selues, and that if he lyke well of vs, it must not bee in respect of our owne selues. And why? For wee be prisoners and bondsaues of sin, wee bee hild downe vnder the yoke and tyrannie of Satan, and finally wee bee shet vp in the bondage of death, till wee bee raunsomed by our Lord Iesus Christ. Now then wee see that the summe of this lesson is, that men are admonished too depart out of themseles, and too seeke their saluation in Gods only goodnesse, euen by holding the meane that is shewed vs heere, which is too resort too our Lord Iesus Christ. For there are two euill extremities wherof wee must beware.