A17705:1184
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…
The sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle of S. Paul too the Ephesians. Translated out of French into English by Arthur GoldingThe sermons of M. Iohn Caluin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the Ephesians. Translated out of French into English by Arthur Golding
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for Lucas Harison, 1577
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
If we compare our selves with faith, and with the things that it bringeth us: we shall well see that there is just cause why God should will us too do him homage for so great and so excellent a fifth.1 For it is said, that God looked down upon men, and that he found them every chone given over too all evil, and sopped in their filthiness, so as there is not one that seeketh after goodness. Again, when there is any speaking of our reason and wisdom,2 it is said to be stark ignorance, and that we be utterly brutish, and that we must become fools in our selves, if we will profit in Gods school. And […] for our harts: what are they? They be full of naughtiness and […] bornnesse even from our childhood, as the holy scripture reporteth every where of them. Forasmuch then as we be blind in our understanding, and froward in will: let us come now and see what faith is. It is a comprehending of Gods secrets, so as we know the fatherly love that he beareth us, & assure our selves of it, & take hold of the heavenly life, which nevertheless is incomprehensible too mans understanding: & to be short,3 are acquainted with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, which extendeth high & low, and deep and wide, as we have seen heretofore. Now then if on the one side we consider what faith is, & on the other side enter into our selves, and examine our selves in such sort, as we find our selves utterly destitute of all goodness: it is good reason we should confess, that until God give us faith, we have no faith at all. That is the thing which we have too mark upon this text.
If wee compare our selues with fayth, and with the things that it bringeth vs: wee shall well see that there is iust cause why God should will vs too doo him homage for so great and so excellent a fift.1 For it is sayd, that God looked downe vppon men, and that he found them euery chone giuen ouer too all euill, and saped in their filthinesse, so as there is not one that seeketh after goodnesse. Agein, when there is any speaking of our reason and wisdome,2