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 addeth, that all is done according too the richesse of Gods grace. No• without cause doth he here magnify Gods mercy which he uttereth in receiving us too favour. For we see on the one side how men do wilfully overshoot themselves through their foolish overweening: For most men have always imagined, that they might make their atonement with God by their own satisfactions, and I wot not what shifts besides. Seeing then that men are so far overseen in their own imaginations, S. Paul too exclude all such dealing, saith that we must be ravished in love with the richness of Gods goodness. He could have said simply that God doth all according too his grace: but he setteth down here his great treasures, too the intent that men should not be so fond, as too bring as it were but a farthing, for the discharge of ten hundred thousand crowns. And truly when the Papists prattle of their satisfactions, they say not that they be able too do it throughly ⟨image 41⟩in all points: but they are of opinion that with the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, they also are able too bring somewhat of their own, and too do so much by patches and pieces, that God shall be satisfied and contented. Thus ye see what a devilish opinion reigneth in papistry, for they will needs found masses, they will needs babble many prayers, they will needs gad on pilgrimage, they will needs keep this feast and that feast, they will needs perform I wot not what devotions, they will needs wear sack cloth next their skin: and all too help forth the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ: as who should say, it were not sufficient enough of it self. But S. Paul telleth us that Gods goodness as it is showed us in Jesus Christ, is so great a treasure, that all other things must needs give over and be thrust under fo•te. And seeing that God useth so great bountifulness as we ought too be wholly ravished at it: is it not too outrageous a presumptuousness, when we will needs bring our own pelting trash, as though our going on pilgrimage, & our doing of some other devotions were of any value or estimation? Is it not all one, as though the blood of Jesus Christ were not a sufficient price, I say a sufficient price and ransom for our salvation? Ye see then on the one side, how S.

Heeruppon S. Paule addeth, that all is done according too the richesse of Gods grace. No• without cause dooth he heere magnifye Gods mercie which he vttereth in receyuing vs too fauour. For wee see on the one syde how men doo wilfully ouershoote themselues through their foolish ouerweening: For most men haue alwayes imagined, that they myght make their attonement with God by their owne satisfactions, and I wote not what shiftes besydes. Seeing then that men are so farre ouerseene in their owne imaginations, S. Paule too exclude all such dealing, sayth that wee must bee rauished in loue with the richenesse of Gods goodnesse. He could haue sayd simply that God dooth all according too his grace: but he setteh downe heere his greate treasures, too the intent that men should not bee so fond, as too bring as it were but a farthing, for the discharge of ten hundred thousand crownes. And truly when the Papists prattle of their satisfactions, they say not that they bee able too doo it throughly