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…

But here by the way a man might ask a question. For Saint Paul prayeth not God too give faith too the faithless, and charity too them that are fleshly: but unto the brethren, that is too say, too the body of the Church. Now if they be of the Church, they be Gods children already, they be begotten again by the holy Ghost, and by that mean they have both faith and charity. But herein Saint Paul showeth us, that it is not enough for that God begin faith in us, unless he continue in it too the end: and that like as we call faith the gift of God, so must he also make it too grow and increase day by day.¹ And that is it which is meant by this saying, that it is given unto us not only too believe in Jesus Christ, but also too suffer for him. Therefore Gods giving of faith unto us, is not in such wise, as that he doth but only prepare us, that we might believe the Gospel, if we listed, and that afterward we should bring a consent of our own, & go forward of our selves by our own power: No: but when God hath once disposed us too believe, he must also give us such an affection, as may touch us too the quick, and afterward drive us forward, and give us ability too persevere, so as we may profit, & go forward, & be confirmed even to the end. That is the cause why S. Paul speaking here of the faithful which were brought already into the good way, and to whom the grace of God was manifested, sayeth nevertheless, that God must be fain too further them & give them the gift to hold out, even by growing more and more as well in faith as in love.

But heere by the way a man myght aske a question. For Saint Paule prayeth not God too giue fayth too the faythlesse, and charitie too them that are fleshly: but vntoo the brethren, that is too say, too the bodie of the Church. Now if they be of the Church, they bee Gods children alredye, they bee begotten agein by the holie Ghoste, and by that meane they haue both fayth and charitie. But herin Saint Paule sheweth vs, that it is not ynough for that God begin fayth in vs, vnlesse he continew in it too the end: and that lyke as wee call fayth the gift of God, so must he also make it too growe and increace day by day.¹ And that is it which is ment by this saying, that it is giuen vntoo vs not only too beleeue in Iesus Christ, but also too suffer for him. Therfore Gods giuing of fayth vntoo vs, is not in such wyse, as that he dooth but only prepare vs, that wee myght beleeue the Gospell, if we listed, and that afterward we should bring a consent of our owne, & go foreward of our selues by our own power: No: but when God hath once dispozed vs too beleeue, he must also giue vs such an affection, as may touche vs too the quicke, and afterward driue vs forewarde, and giue vs abilitie too perseuer, so as we may profit, & go foreward, & be confirmed euen to the end. That is the cause why S. Paule speaking heere of the faythfull which were brought alredie intoo the good way, and to whom the grace of God was manifested, sayeth neuerthelesse, that God must bee fayne too further them & giue them the gift to hold out, euen by growing more and more as wel in fayth as in loue.