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…

Thereupon, too end and knit up his Epistle withal, Saint Paul prayeth, that the brethren might have peace, love, and Faith from God, and from our Lord Jesus Christ. Now this word Peace is commonly taken in Saint Paul, for all welfare and prosperity. In deed it signifieth properly concord: but the Apostles being accustomed too the Hebrew tongue, have used the word that importeth both. And when Saint Paul sayeth, Grace and peace be given unto you: by the first he wisheth Gods favour and mercy, and by the other, that he should prosper us in all goodness and good things. Therefore in this text he showeth, that all the prosperity of the godly cometh of Gods mere goodness, and not from elsewhere. Thereunto he addeth also, faith and charity. Wherein we see that God reserveth too him self the office, not only of sending us these outward goods which we want, but also and specially of giving us the spiritual gifts, whereof we be utterly void and destitute. Howbeit, it is hard too make men believe it, because they be always drunken with this pride, of imagining themselves too have some ability of mind too believe the Gospel, and too discern between good and evil, insomuch that too their seeming, it is a needless thing to pray God too enlighten them. But yet must we needs be punished for our overweening, if we think we have either faith or charity of our selves. So then let us conclude, that both of them be the singular gifts of God, and let us confess, that both of them come of him, and that on the other side he must be fain […]: for we be blind […] we have the word pre• ched ⟨image 364⟩too us, and as it were chewed too us, so as there remaineth no more for us too do, but too swallow it down. Yet shall we continue dull like blocks of timber, if God do not enlighten us by his holy spirit, and bow our harts too his obedience. Then if God work not so, it is certain that when our ears shall have bin beaten with good doctrine all the time of our life, it shall be but lost labour. And it is not only in this text that it is said so: but a man shall scarcely find any leaf in the holy Scripture, wherein God reserveth not too him self the giving of faith. And in good faith we our selves see well, that the holy scripture enlighteneth us, and how utterly we be destitute of Gods spirit.

Theruppon, too end and knit vp his Epistle withall, Saint Paule prayeth, that the brethren myght haue peace, loue, and Fayth from God, and from our Lord Iesus Christ. Now this woord Peace is commonly taken in Saint Paule, for all welfare and prosperitie. In deede it signifyeth properly concord: but the Apostles being accustomed too the Hebrew tung, haue vsed the word that importeth both. And when Saint Paule sayeth, Grace and peace bee giuen vntoo you: by the first he wisheth Gods fauour and mercie, and by the other, that he should prosper vs in all goodnesse and good things. Therfore in this text he sheweth, that all the prosperitie of the godly commeth of Gods mere goodnesse, and not from elswhere. Therunto he addeth also, fayth and charitie. Wherin wee see that God reserueth too him self the office, not only of sending vs these outward goods which wee want, but also and specially of giuing vs the spiritual gifts, wherof wee bee vtterly voyd and destitute. Howbeit, it is hard too make men beleeue it, bicause they be alwayes drunkē with this pryde, of imagining themselues too haue some abilitie of mynd too beleeue the Gospell, and too discerne betweene good and euill, insomuch that too their seeming, it is a needlesse thing to pray God too inlyghten them. But yit must wee needs bee punished for our ouerweening, if wee think wee haue eyther fayth or charitie of our selues. So then let vs conclude, that bothe of them bee the singular gifts of God, and let vs confesse, that both of them come of him, and that on the other side he must bee fayme : for wee bee blynd wee haue the woord pre ched