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…

that is too wit, to make us perceive Gods goodness, that we might be joined unto him, and he be our true happiness. And hereupon we may ⟨p. 47⟩gather also, that until such time as our Lord have enlightened us by his holy Spirit, we can find neither way nor path too come near the heavenly life, no nor so much as guess what it meaneth. Wherefore it is for our behoof, that our Lord should put us in possession of our salvation, by the power of his holy spirit. I told you heretofore how that faith serveth too give us an entrance into the kingdom of heaven, and into the heritage that is purchased for us by our Lord Jesus Christ, and that God must be fain too give it us by his holy spirit. Then sith it is so, let us mark that we have need, not only too have •he Gospel preached unto us, but also that God bore our ears, so as we may hearken too the things that are contained in the same, and he open our eyes too see the things that he showeth us: and too be short, that he may both begin all, and bring all too pass. Howbeit for as much as men (as I said afore) do by their fond imaginations take more upon them than they ought too do, and on the other side despise Gods gifts: S. Paul magnifieth here the hope whereof he had made mention before, saying: What the richesse of the glory of his heritage are among the Saints. No doubt but that when there […] any speaking of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, we will say, ••ey be high things: howbeit that is but too exempt our selves from ••em, if we could scape: so as we could be contented to know •ightnought of the things that concern our salvation. We be unsatiable when any body feeds us with vanities and leasings: but if God call us too his school, we shrink back as much as we can possibly, yea and we set this afore us as a shield, that we be rude, •nd that we have but a small and over gross understanding, & that the secretes of Gods word are too deep and incomprehensible for us. We have skill enough too say so: and yet is all but hypocrisy and feignedness. And for proof thereof men will always judge after their own liking, so as if any thing be propounded to them from out of Gods word: Is it so, say they? And how is that possible? They reason, they scan of it.