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…

Now, were it but such a gift, as when he maketh his Sun to shine both upon good and bad, or as when he causeth the earth to bring forth fruit indifferently for all men: the same ought also too be reckoned among the gifts and benefits of God. But faith is a singular gift, which is not bestowed commonly upon all men, but is reserved of God as a Jewell for those whom he liketh well of. And what is the cause of it? We are all of us the children of Adam, and we are all of one mould. Why then enlighteneth he the one sort, and letteth the other alone in their blindness? There is none other cause but his own choice. So then although we can not conceive neither by wit nor by reason, how God hath chosen us before the making of the world: yet we know it by his showing of it unto us, and experience it self avoucheth it sufficiently, inasmuch as we be enlightened by faith. What is the cause that I receive the Gospel, and stick to it, and in the mean while others abide still in their beastly blockishness, or rather bear a spiteful rancour against the doctrine of salvation? If I ⟨p. 32⟩imagine that it cometh of mine own towardness, I am a traitor too God. For we must always come back to that which we have seen already,¹ and say, Who is he that hath made thee to excel others? S. Paul then doth in that saying pull down all loftiness of man, to the end that no man should advance himself, nor allege that he hath •ught of his own. We must not think (saith he) that we have any worthiness of our selves, but that every whit of it cometh of God. Therefore in this Text S. Paul showeth by experience, how the E••esians had bin chosen of God, & that it behoved them to have their ••ole faith grounded thereupon, that is to wit, upon Gods free goodness. And for proof thereof (saith he) ye have heard the doctrine of […] Gospel, and believed it. But how comes that to pass? He she••th that it must needs be that they were confirmed by the holy Ghost. Now, if they were confirmed, it was of necessity that the holy ghost must needs have wrought beforehand. And so it is to no purpose, to enter into so deep a maze as Gods everlasting ordinance.

Nowe, were it but suche a gyft, as when he maketh his Sunne to shyne both vpon good and bad, or as when he causeth the earth to bring foorth fruit indifferently for all men: the same ought also too bee reckened among the gyftes and benefites of God. But faith is a singular gift, which is not bestowed commonly vppon all men, but is reserued of God as a Iewell for those whom he liketh well of. And what is the cause of it? Wee are all of vs the chyldren of Adam, and we are all of one mould. Why then inlighteneth hee the one sort, and letteth the other alone in their blyndnesse? There is none other cause but his owne choyse. So then although we can not conceyue nother by wyt nor by reason, howe God hath chozen vs before the making of the world: yit wee know it by his shewing of it vntoo vs, and experience it selfe auoucheth it sufficiently, in asmuch as we be inlightened by faith. What is the cause that I receyue the Gospell, and sticke to it, and in the meane whyle others abyde styl in their beastly blockishnesse, or rather beare a spiteful rancour ageynst the doctrine of saluation? If I