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 yet notwithstanding he saith, that all this cometh of Gods mere mercy, and of his everlasting election, which as in respect of our selves is far of, and unknown too us, but we have knowledge of it by the Gospel, which is the means and instrument thereof. For too what purpose were it that our Lord Jesus Christ hath offered him self in sacrifice too reconcile the world to God his father, unless we were made partakers of it by faith? Now, faith is not an opinion of mans conceiving in his own brain: but a settled belief, that God cannot lye nor deceive us, and that it is not to be feared, that our hope shall not come too good end, if we wait upon him. So then, too be short, S. Pauls intent was to show, that if we have the skill to make our profit of the doctrine of the gospel, we shall no longer stand in a mammering and perplexity, but shall be able to call upon God with open mouth, acknowledging our selves so bound and wholly indebted unto ⟨p. 33⟩him in all things, as we fear not but that he avoweth us for his children, and are accepted at his hand, and that he heareth us in all the prayers that we make unto him. Thus much concerning the first point. Therefore according to S. Pauls exhortation▪ let us learn to rest in such wise upon the doctrine of the gospel, that it may be as much too us, as if God showed himself, visibly unto us, and that the heavens were opened unto us:¹ and let us always bear in mind, how it is avouched by the mouth of our Lord Jesus Christ himself,² that when soever sins are […] by the preaching of the gospel, the same is out of hand ratified in heaven. Thus ye see what certainty we ought to have, that we be no more doubtful whether God will hear us, or no. But like as the gospel teacheth us to believe, so also S. Paul showeth us that we ought too esteem it as an incomparable treasure, for so much as it is the power of God, tending to the salvation, of all that believe, as he speaketh of it in the first Chapter too the Romans.³ Seeing then that we be forlorn and undone of our selves, and there is none other means too call, us back again too God, but by the gospel: let us set store by that treasure, and be well advised too make our profit of it.