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…

But now let us mark well the words that S. Paul useth herein, saying, the excellent greatness of his mightiness, according to the effectual working of the power of his strength. It should seem that the holy Ghost meant too thunder down upon this devilish opinion wherewith the world hath at all times bin besotted▪ that is too ⟨p. 49⟩wit, of freewill. For the heathen men presumed so far, as too say that God had in deed created them too be in the world, and that it was in his power too give them good or bad fortune, as they termed it: but that it was in every mans own power and free choice too follow virtue, and too behave himself in such wise, as no fault might be found in him. Lo how the heathen men parted the stake between God and themselves. The lesser matter, which is the setting of us here beneath too crawl here like frogs, they left unto God: but the greater matter, namely our attaining unto heaven, and the ruling of our selves in all virtue, that said they, was in mans own ability, and belonged only too himself. The Jews and Papists have not bin altogether of this mind: for (as I have touched already) they confess that we have need of Gods help: But yet for all that, they will have us too mingle some piece of our own holiness with Gods grace, and too be able too work jointly with it, as they say, insomuch that when it cometh too the reckoning, the chief part shall always be found in our selves.

But now let vs marke well the woordes that S. Paule vseth heerein, saying, the excellent greatnesse of his m•ghtinesse, according to the effectuall vvoorking of the povver of his strength. It should seeme that the holie Ghost ment too thunder downe vppon this diuelish opinion wherwith the world hath at all tymes bin besotted▪ that is too ⟨p. 49⟩wit, of freewill. For the heathen men presumed so farre, as too say that God had in deede created them too bee in the world, and that it was in his power too giue thē good or bad fortune, as they termed it: but that it was in euerye mans owne power and freechoyce too follow vertew, and too behaue himself in such wyse, as no fault myght bee founde in him. Loe how the heathen men parted the stake betweene God and themselues. The lesser matter, which is the setting of vs heere beneath too crawle heere lyke frogges, they left vntoo God: but the greater matter, namely our atteyning vntoo heauen, and the ruling of our selues in all vertew, that sayd they, was in mans owne abilltie, and belonged only too himself. The Iewes and Papists haue not bin altoogither of this mynd: for (as I haue touched alredye) they confesse that we haue neede of Gods helpe: But yit for all that, they will haue vs too mingle some peece of our owne holinesse with Gods grace, and too bee able too woorke ioyntly with it, as they say, insomuch that when it commeth too the reckening, the cheef part shall alwayes bee found in our selues.