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…

And for as much as we do not yet perceive such fullness of Gods grace, as were to be wished, therefore S. Paul sendeth us to the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. And surely if he had not added, that God hath uttered his power in his only son, after such manner as we have herd it: what a thing were it? For we might allege in way of reply, how so? where are these riches of God? For we be not only bereft of the goods of this world, but also we be as a dry & barren ground in respect of the grace of Gods holy spirit. If there be any portion of it in us, it is so small, as we ought too be ashamed of it: and yet for all this, we be moreover plunged in our infirmities. If ye speak of Gods power, it ought too get the upper hand of all sin in us. But we be so weak, that we be as good as beaten down. Again, it were meet that Gods image should shine forth in us, and we bear such store of filthiness and such blemishes about us as is pity too see. We should be wholly consecrated too God, but the world holds us back, and we be as it were snarled in it. Lo how the faithful might be abashed when any talk were ministered concerning Gods grace, if they stayed there, and were not led forth too Jesus Christ. Not without cause therefore doth S. Paul add here, that God did then utter the excellency of his power, when he raised our Lord Jesus Christ from death. And he speaketh purposely of his resurrection, because that in his death we see nothing but astonishment. For there appeared nothing but weakness: but by his vanquishing of death he showed himself too be the son of God, yea and the Lord of glory and life, who •ad all power in himself. And that also is the cause why S. Paul ⟨image 67⟩saith, that God did set him at his right hand. For it had not bin enough for Jesus Christ to have bin raised again, except he had a continual and abiding dominion. True it is that even in his (only) resurrection, we have a record that he is the son of God:

And for as much as wee doo not yit perceyue such fulnesse of Gods grace, as were to be wished, therfore S. Paule sendeth vs to the person of our Lord Iesus Christ. And surely if he had not added, that God hath vttered his power in his only sonne, after such maner as we haue herd it: what a thing were it? For we myght alledge in way of reply, howso? where are these riches of God? For we be not only bereft of the goods of this world, but also we be as a dry & barrein grōud in respect of the grace of Gods holy spirit. If there bee any portion of it in vs, it is so smal, as wee ought too bee ashamed of it: and yit for all this, wee bee moreouer plundged in our infirmities. If yee speake of Gods power, it ought too get the vpper hand of all sinne in vs. But wee bee so weake, that wee bee as good as beaten downe. Agein, it were meete that Gods image should shyne foorth in vs, and wee beare such store of fylthinesse and such blemishes about vs as is pitie too see. Wee should bee wholly consecrated too God, but the worlde holdes vs backe, and wee bee as it were snarled in it. Loe how the faythfull myght bee abasshed when any talke were ministered concerning Gods grace, if they stayed there, and were not led foorth too Iesus Christ. Not without cause therfore doth S. Paule adde here, that God did then vtter the excellencie of his power, when he rayzed our Lord Iesus Christ from death. And he speaketh purposely of his resurrection, bycause that in his death wee see nothing but astonishment. For there appeered nothing but weaknesse: but by his vanquishing of death he shewed himself too bee the sonne of God, yea and the Lord of glorie and lyfe, who ad all power in himself. And that also is the cause why S. Paule