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…

Finally it is too be noted upon this word Faith, that S. Paul doth not without cause say, the faith in Jesus Christ: for that is the thing which we must look at. The fathers of old time had always the image of God before their eyes: for they might not make sacrifice but before his mercy seat: they might not hope that God herd them,¹ or was merciful too them by any other mean. They then had the visible image of the Ark of covenant:² but we have now Jesus Christ the image of God, which was invisible of himself: for not without cause doth S. Paul say, that God is incomprehensible till he manifest himself in the person of his son. Therefore sith we have Jesus Christ who is the express image of God, it behoveth us to look thither. And here ye see also why it is said, that he is the express image of the power of God his father. For although the persons be distinct:³ yet doth he represent unto us the things that are belonging and requisite too ou• salvation, so that in knowing the son, we know the father also, as sayeth S. John: and he that hath not the son, renounceth the father, what protestation soever he make of going ⟨p. 41⟩too him. So then, whereas it is said here,⁴ that we must believe in Jesus Christ: let us bethink us of the warning which he giveth to his disciples. Believe ye in God (sayeth he?) believe ye also in me. There he showeth that the ancient fathers which lived under the Law, had but a dark teaching, until the time that he was manifested too the world. True it is that they worshipped the living God, yea and that they had none access unto him but by means of the mediator. Howbeit, that was but under shadows and figures, neither had •hey any such light as we have nowadays under the Gospel. And […] that cause also told I you that he is called the image of God, who is of his own nature invisible, so as we could not know him, unless he ••tered himself by such means. Too be short, let us mark that we oo nothing else but wander, till we have our faith settled in Jesus Christ. And this will be the better perceived by the errors wherewith he world hath bin imbrued unto this day. For the Papists will proest well enough that they believe in God: as much do the Turks & the Jews also. True it is that the Papists and Jews seem too come nearest the truth: