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 there is yet another point, which is that when we have once embraced Gods grace by faith, so as we know that our Lord Jesus Christ is he in whom we find all that is requisite too make us perfectly happy: it standeth us on hand too be stablished in the same. For why? let us mark how wavering men are. He that is best disposed too follow God, shall by and by fall, because we be so frail that the devil will overthrow us every minute of an hour, if God held us n•t up by strong hand. And for that cause is it said that God uttereth his power in maintaining us, when he hath chosen us, and given us too our Lord Jesus Christ. For if he fought not for us, alas what would become of us? we should be confounded out of hand, and we shou•d ⟨p. 34⟩not take one or two falls, but infinite falls, as I said afore. As soon then as we were in the way of salvation, by & by should we surely be tu•ned out of it by our own frailty, lightness and unconstancie, unless we were held back, and that God wrought so in us, as we might by his holy spirit overcome all the assaults of the devil and the world. Thus doth Gods spirit work double in us as in respect of faith. For he enlighteneth us to make us understand the things that else should be hidden from us, and too receive Gods promises with all obedience. That is the first working. The second is, that the same spirit is fain too continue in us, and too give us perseverance, that we quail not in the midst of our way. That then is the thing •hat S. Paul treateth of as now. As if he should say, my friends, ye have known Gods grace, and ye have had experience of it, and that he hath drawn you too the obeying of his Gospel: For you had never rome unto it, if he had not showed himself pitiful towards you. But yet assure your selves, that he doubleth his grace, in that he giveth you power too hold out in the same. For had ye continued but two or three days, or two or three years, yea or more: needs must it be that God had helped you therein, for else ye should always have bin in a mammering, yea, and as poor wretches at your wits end, without any certainty at all, but that God hath promised too have a care of you, and too guide you continually till you be come too your ways end, and have accomplished your course.

Now there is yit another poynt, which is that when wee haue once imbraced Gods grace by fayth, so as wee knowe that our Lord Iesus Christ is he in whom wee fynd all that is requisite too make vs perfectly happie: it standeth vs on hand too be stablished in the same. For why? let vs marke how wauering men are. He that is best dispozed too followe God, shall by and by fall, bycause wee be so frayle that the diuell will ouerthrowe vs euery minute of an houre, if God hild vs nt vp by strong hand. And for that cause is it sayd that God vttereth his power in mainteyning vs, when he hath chozen vs, and giuen vs too our Lord Iesus Christ. For if he fought not for vs, alas what woulde become of vs? wee should bee confounded out of hand, and we shoud