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 let us see how the holy Ghost speaketh of it. Too what end useth he all these term of highness, power, strength, effectual working, and mightiness? wherefore heapeth he up all these together, but too show that men be mad when they will take more upon them than becometh them? There is not that word here, which serveth not to abate our cackling, if we boast of never so little a drop of goodness. For if men say, I have yet some good moving in me, I have some piece of virtue: behold, S. Paul speaketh of Highness: as if he meant to show that all the goodness which we have, is above the world, and hath not his root nor spring in our selves, but cometh from above, as S. James sayeth.¹ Again, if men say, we have some power too withstand our own vices, and to fight against temptations: S. Paul sayeth here, that our strength, our power, and our might cometh of God, and that he must be fain to vestowe it upon us, and we to receive it of him. If men say still, yet by straining our selves we may be able too do somewhat: S. Paul telleth us, there is no effectual working, there is no bringing of the thing to pass, unless God give it us, according too his speaking of it in the second to the Philippians, where he sayeth,² that it standeth us on hand too walk in fear and wariness, because it is God which giveth both the will & the ability to perform the will, according too his own good pleasure: that is too say, he beginneth ⟨image 66⟩the work, and bringeth it too the end and knitting up. Too be short, let us mark, that look how many words there are here, so many great thunderclaps and lightnings are there too beat down and too sink all the pride of man, too the intent that being confounded in our selves, we might give God the glory which he deserveth, and with all lowliness frankly and freely yield our selves guilty, acknowledging that all goodness cometh of him, & that we be beholden to him only for it. Thus ye see how the effect of the matter which we have too mark upon this strain, is too embase our selves in such wise, as we might have no desire too part halves with God, too say that he doth but help us, and that there is some portion of his grace and holy spirit in our own freewill: but too yield him purely and simply the whole praise of our salvation.

But let vs see how the holy Ghost speaketh of it. Too what end vseth he all these terme of hyghnesse, power, strengh, effectual vvorking, and myghtinesse? wherfore heapeth he vp all these toogither, but too shewe that men bee mad when they will take more vpon them than becōmeth them? Ther is not that woord heere, which serueth not to abate our cackling, if wee boast of neuer so little a drop of goodnesse. For if men say, I haue yit some good mouing in mee, I haue some peece of vertew: behold, S. Paule speaketh of Hyghnesse: as if he ment to shew that all the goodnesse which we haue, is aboue the world, and hath not his roote nor spring in our selues, but cōmeth from aboue, as S. Iames sayeth.