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…

Too be short, although we be passed from death too life (as is said in the fifth of John:) yet do we fight against an infinite number of deaths, because we be besieged by them. And S. Paul doth well match both together in this text. For on the one side he sayeth we be not yet come too our redemption and heritage: and yet therewithal he showeth, that we be nevertheless sure of it for all that, and that nothing but our own unthankfulness letteth us too glory fully in God, and too say with full mouth, that we doubt not of our coming too the heavenly life, forasmuch as we have an earnest penny thereof by the holy Ghost, and are so knit too our Lord Jesus Christ, that all the goods which he hath, do belong unto us, and are made common to us by faith. Therefore let us mark well what is contained in these words of S. Pauls. He sayeth that the holy ghost is our earnest penny. Seeing it is so: we must needs be sure of our redemption, whereof we shall have the possession at the last day, yea even to the full: & that doth the thing of it self show sufficiently. For we be but silly worms of the earth, we be compassed about with rottenness and corruption, we be beset with so many miseries as is pity to see, the world raileth upon us, and mocketh us and our simplicity, we be fain too endure hunger and thirst, it seemeth often times that God hath forsaken us, and after a sort cut us of, yea, and that he vou• safeth not too pity us, as the most despised creatures of the world. Lo at what point we be too outward appearance. And therefore it standeth us on hand too have a remedy, too warrant our selves withal in the midst of so many perplexities and hartgriefes. That is the cause why S. Paul sayeth purposely, that the holy Ghost is our earnest penny. Although then that the world have the bridle loose to trample us under his feet, as they say: although our Lord keep us occupied with many temptations: although he humble us in such wise, as it may seem that we be as sheep appointed too the slaughter, so as death be continually between our teeth: yet are we not unpurveyed ⟨p. 36⟩of good remedy. For why? Seeing that the holy Ghost reigneth in our hearts, we have whereof too boast even in the midst of all our temptations, according as it is said in the viii.¹

Too bee short, although wee bee passed from death too lyfe (as is sayde in the fift of Iohn:) yit do we fyght ageinst an infinite number of deathes, bycause wee be beseeged by them. And S. Paule dooth well match bothe toogither in this text. For on the one syde he sayeth wee bee not yit come too our redemption and herytage: and yit therwithal he sheweth, that we bee neuerthelesse sure of it for all that, and that nothing but our owne vnthankfulnesse letteth vs too glory fuly in God, and too say with full mouth, that wee doubt not of our comming too the heauenly lyfe, forasmuch as wee haue an earnest penny therof by the holy Ghoste, and are so knyt too our Lord Iesus Christ, that all the goodes which he hath, doo belong vntoo vs, and are made common to vs by fayth. Therfore let vs mark well what is conteyned in these words of S. Paules. He sayeth that the holy ghost is our earnest penny. Seing it is so: wee must needs be sure of our redemption, wherof we shall haue the possession at the last day, yea euen to the full: & that doth the thing of it slf shew sufficiently. For we be but sillie wormes of the earth, wee bee compassed aboute with rottennesse and corruption, wee bee beset with so many miseries as is pitie to see, the world rayleth vpon vs, and mocketh vs and our simplicitie, we bee fayne too indure hunger and thirst, it seemeth often tymes that God hath forsaken vs, and after a sort cut vs of, yea, and that he vou safeth not too pitie vs, as the most despyzed creatures of the worlde. Lo at what poynt wee bee too outward appeerance. And therefore it standeth vs on hand too haue a remedie, too warrant our selues withall in the middes of so many perplexities and hartgriefes. That is the cause why S. Paule sayeth purposely, that the holy Ghost is our earnest penny. Although then that the world haue the brydle looce to trample vs vnder his feete, as they say: although our Lord keepe vs occupyed with many temptations: although he humble vs in such wyse, as it may seeme that wee bee as sheepe appoynted too the slaughter, so as death bee continually betweene our teeth: yit are wee not vnpurueyed