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…

And for the better declaration hereof, he addeth immediately, that it was too gather all things together, as well in heaven as in earth, by Jesus Christ, in himself. As touching this word gather, S. Paul meant too show us thereby how we be all of us horribly scattered, till such time as our Lord Jesus Christ set us in array again: and this is verified not only of us, but also of all other creatures. Too be short, it is all one as if he had said, that the whole order of nature is as good as defaced, and all things decayed and disordered in the sin of Adam, till we be repaired again in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. For although we behold Gods wonderful wisdom, power, goodness, justice, and righteousness in all creatures: yet notwithstanding there are marks of sin both above and beneath, and all creatures are subject too corruption, and all is disordered by reason that God hateth and rejecteth us.¹ Needs therefore must a restorement be made by Jesus Christ. And that is the thing that is meant by the gathering together that S. Paul speaketh of here, too the end we would learn too mislike of our selves, and too be ashamed of the disorder that is in our selves, and wherewith the whole world is filled through our sinful life: and moreover learn also too magnify Gods goodness so much the more. Then on the one side the holy Ghost warneth us in this text, that not only we our selves are out of order, but also that we have brought the whole world too the same point, and do keep it still at the same stay daily by our sins, and that there is none other remedy thereof, but that Jesus Christ must be fain too amend all again, and make such a gathering and union, as we may be knit again too our God. And so ye see the first point that we have too mark upon this text. Truly this thing is spoken in few words: but it had need too be mused upon more at length. For it is the thing whereabouts we ought too occupy our selves both early and late, that when we look into our selves, we might bethink us in ⟨p. 29⟩this wise: who art thou o wretched creature? for thou seest thou art separated from thy God even from thy birth: behold, thou art his enemy and inheritor of his wrath: and on the other side there is nothing in thy self which tendeth not too naughtiness and frowardness:

And for the better declaration hereof, he addeth immediatly, that it vvas too gather all thinges toogither, as vvell in heauen as in earth, by Iesus Christ, in himselfe. As touching this woord gather, S. Paule ment too shewe vs thereby how wee bee all of vs horribly scattered, till such time as our Lord Iesus Christ set vs in aray agein: and this is verifyed not onely of vs, but also of all other creatures. Too bee short, it is all one as if he had sayd, that the whole order of nature is as good as defaced, and all thinges decayed and disordered in the sinne of Adam, till wee bee repayred ageyne in the person of our Lord Iesus Christ. For although wee beholde Gods woonderfull wisdome, power, goodnesse, iustice, and rightuousnesse in all creatures: yit notwithstanding there are markes of sinne both aboue and beneath, and all creatures are subiect too corruption, and all is disordered by reason that God hateth and reiecteth vs.