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…

Furthermore, whereas S. Paul sayeth here, that he was ordained head in the Church (or over the Church) in all things: it is a continuing in his matter, too bring us wholly too Jesus Christ. As if he should say, It is true that Gods gracious gifts are dealt abroad, yea and that the Angels and mortal men also may be ministers of them unto us: but yet howsoever the case stand, we must always resort too the wellhead. The veins that are dispersed throughout the whole body, may well give strength too every part, for they be as it were the Conduit pipes of the blood: but yet howsoever the world go, the brain must always be the wellspring of life. It is well to be seen, that in a tree the sap is spread throughout: and yet notwithstanding albeit that the root ascend not up too give nourishment too every branch and leaf: all the nourishment cometh of the root. And if any man would say, that the whole tree is maintained alive by any one branch: the clean contrary is seen. It is true that a great bough may well give nourishment to the branches and twigs that are about it: but is it meet that that should prejudice the root therefore? (No surely:) no more than the members of a mans body ought too prejudice the head▪ though every member do his duty. Here S. Paul sayeth that our Lord Jesus Christ was given to the Church to be her head above all things, as if he should say, it behoveth us all too resort unto him. In this case there is neither S. Paul, nor S. Peter, nor the virgin Mary, nor S. Michael that have ought of their own. For they are all needy & hungry, saving so far forth as Jesus Christ filleth them: & therefore all of them, as well che great as the small, must be fain to draw out of his plenty. And that is the cause why that in the selfsame text which I alleged out of the first to the Colossians,¹ S. Paul sayeth, it pleased God the father that all plenty or fullness should dwell in him. For the title of Head is not alonely a style of fleeting honour: but it serveth too express the power of our Lord Jesus Christ so much the better. Therefore like as a (natural) head not only hath superiority and preeminence above the whole body, but also yieldeth nourishment too the whole, and keepeth the man alive: even so is it between our Lord Jesus Christ and us, in so much that all should go to wreck, if we depended not upon him.

Furthermore, wheras S. Paule sayeth heere, that he was ordeyned head in the Church (or ouer the Church) in all thinges: it is a continuing in his matter, too bring vs wholly too Iesus Christ. As if he should say, It is trew that Gods gracious giftes are delt abrode, yea and that the Angelles and mortall men also may bee ministers of them vntoo vs: but yit howsoeuer the cace stand, we must alwayes resort too the welhead. The veynes that are dispersed throughout the whole bodie, may well giue strength too euery part, for they bee as it were the Cunditpypes of the blud: but yit howsoeuer the world go, the brayne must alwayes be the welspring of lyfe. It is wel to be seen, that in a tree the sap is spred throughout: and yit notwithstading albeeit that the roote ascende not vp too giue nurrishment too euery braunche and leafe: all the nurrishment commeth of the roote. And if any man woold say, that the whole tree is maynteyned alyue by any one braūch: the cleane contrary is seene. It is trew that a great bough may well giue nurrishment to the braunches and twigges that are about it: but is it meete that that should preiudice the roote therfore? (No surely:) no more than the members of a mans body ought too preiudice the heade though euery member doo his dewty. Here S. Paule sayeth that our Lord Iesus Christ was giuen to the Churche to be hir heade aboue all thinges, as if he should say, it behoueth vs all too resort vntoo him. In this cace ther is nother S. Paule, nor S. Peter, nor the virgin Mary, nor S. Michaell that haue ought of their owne. For they are all needie & hungery, sauing so farforth as Iesus Christ filleth them: & therfore al of thē, as well che great as the small, must be fayne to draw out of his plentie. And that is the cause why that in the selfsame text which I alledged out of the first to the Colossians,