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…

Howbeit forasmuch as we be heavy and slothful, and unable too attain too the majesty of God, therefore it is said, that Jesus Christ hath obtained all sovereignty, so as we be sure that he hath us in his protection, & that being under his hand, we be safe, and all the devils of hell (do what they can) cannot prevail at all against us. For who is it that hath all power? It is even our head. Although then that we which are his members be weak: yet is there strength enough in the head, which is the chief part of the body. And so ye see for what cause it is said, that Jesus Christ is set at the right hand of God his father: namely too show us that we need not too seek far for his help, seeing he governeth all things both above and beneath, and we •ee committed too his charge here. He sayeth that God hath uttered his high and infinite power in us. Howbeit forasmuch as that sufficeth not, by reason of the infirmities which we feel, & for that there is so much amiss in us still, and we be not yet come too the full measure, no nor too the hundred part of it: therefore too the intent we may be the better assured of all the things that we want, we must consider them in Jesus Christ: Are we then subject yet still unto death? Behold Jesus Christ is received up into everlasting life: for the very cause why he became a mortal man as we be, was that the life which he hath, might belong unto us. Doth sin dwell still in us? Behold, Jesus Christ hath no spot nor blemish in him. Are we weak? He is the power of God his father, and look whatsoever he received in his manhood, which he took of us, was for our sakes and too our behoof. Too be short, look whatsoever we want, and whatsoever may comfort or quicken us, we shall find it in our Lord Jesus Christ, because we should not be in care and perplexity, as though we were excluded from the benefits that S. Paul hath made mention of heretofore. Finally we should never have any settled trust, except we knew that the things which are wanting in our selves, are in our head. For the measure of Gods gracious gifts is very small, yea even in the perfectest folk, and in such as are forwardest▪ and have profited most of all. Sith it is so then, we should always hang in a mammering and doubt.

Howbeit forasmuch as wee bee heauie and sothfull, and vnable too atteyne too the maiestie of God, therefore it is sayde, that Iesus Christ hath obteyned all souereintie, so as wee bee sure that he hath vs in his protection, & that being vnder his hand, wee be safe, and all the diuels of hell (doo what they can) cannot preuayle at al ageinst vs. For who is it that hath al power? It is euē our head. Although thē that we which are his members be weak: yit is there strength ynough in the head, which is the chiefe part of the body. And so ye see for what cause it is sayd, that Iesus Christ is set at the right hand of God his father: namely too shewe vs that wee neede not too seeke farre for his help, seeing he gouerneth all things both aboue and beneath, and wee ee committed too his charge here. He sayeth that God hath vttered his high and infinite power in vs. Howebeeit forasmuch as that suffizeth not, by reason of the infirmities which wee feele, & for that there is so much amisse in vs still, and wee bee not yit come too the full measure, no nor too the hundreth part of it: therefore too the intent we may bee the better assured of all the things that wee want, wee must consider them in Iesus Christ: Are wee then subiect yit still vntoo death? Behold Iesus Christ is receyued vp intoo euerlasting life: for the very cause why he became a mortall man as wee bee, was that the life which he hath, might belong vnto vs. Doth sinne dwell still in vs? Behold, Iesus Christ hath no spot nor blemish in him. Are wee weake? He is the power of God his father, and looke whatsoeuer he receyued in his manhod, which he tooke of vs, was for our sakes and too our behoofe. Too bee short, looke whatsoeuer wee want, and whatsoeuer may comfort or quicken vs, we shall fynd it in our Lord Iesus Christ, bycause wee should not bee in care and perplexitie, as though we were excluded from the benefites that S. Paule hath made mention of heretoofore. Finally wee should neuer haue any settled trust, except wee knew that the things which are wanting in our selues, are in our head. For the measure of Gods gracious giftes is very fimall, yea euen in the perfectest folke, and in such as are forewardest and haue profited most of all. Sith it is so then, wee should alwayes hang in a mamering and doubt.