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 heerewithall he showeth that faith and charity are the very gifts of God, & come not of our selves, as men do always imagine through a devilish pride. I told you afore, that S. Paul plaid not the Hypocrite in giving thanks too God for the faith and charity of the Ephesians. If every man could believe, and had faith of his own inclination, or cold get it by some power of his own: the praise thereof ought not too be given unto God: for it were but a mockery too acknowledge our selves beholden too him for that thing which we ⟨p. 39⟩have of others than of him. But here S. Paul blisseth Gods name for enlightening the Ephesians with faith, and for framing their harts unto charity. Therefore it is too be concluded, that all the whole cometh of God. The heathen men bringing in their own freewill, thought themselves beholden too God for nothing, but for their good fortune, as they termed it: for they surmised that they had all things by their own power and policy. The Papists also will well grant that Gods grace must be fain too help us in par•e: •ub yet […] all that they will have man too be still exalted, and too attain too ••yth by his own motion. •eere S Paul shutteth out all these devilish opinions, and showeth (as we have seen heretofore) that whensoever there is any Church in the world, or any people too •al upon […], which are settled and grounded upon the belief of the Gospel: God deserveth to ha•e the whole glory thereof. And why? For his hand must needs ha•e wrought in that case, because men would never incline too any goodness, if they were not guided and governed to it, yea and even drawn too it perforce by the holy Ghost. For there is so grea•e […] usnesse in us, that we not only be weak and feeble, as the papists imagine, but also utterly contrary too God, until such time as he have cleansed us. And this is the thing which he meaneth in saying by his prophet Ezekiel, that the hearts which were stony before, shall be turned into fleshly hearts, namely that he will soften them, and bow them to his obeisance.