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…

This matter is laid forth more at large in the first Chapter too the Colossians. For S. Paul showeth there, that our Lord Jesus Christ,¹ was appointed too be the head even from the beginning of the world, forsomuchas all things were created in him, and not only forsomuchas he is our redeemer at this day. For put the case that Adam had not fallen into the ruin whereinto he hath drawn us with him: yet had Gods son bin always still as the first borne of all creatures. Not that he himself is a creature, but because he is the foundation, according also as S. Paul addeth the reason thereof, which is, that in him the Angels were created, and in him they have their being or abiding. Ye see then that the son of God should not have ceased to have had all preeminence both above and beneath, though we had not fallen with our father Adam into such confusion as we be in. But now our Lord Jesus Christ must be our head after another manner: that is too wit, too make us at one again with God his father, and too gather us together again unto him, from whom we were estranged by sin, so as he was our deadly enemy, till we were brought in favour again by means of Jesus Christ, by forgiving us our sins. And besides this, S. Paul declareth in the same Text, that Jesus Christ was ordained head of the Church, too the end that all fullness should be in him. Thus we see how we ought too be knit with the Angels, with the ancient fathers, and with the Prophets, with condition that our Lord Jesus Christ must nevertheless not only continue the first and chief, but also have all things referred unto him, and we communicate in such wise together, that every of us keep his place, and be all members of one body, and that there be no mo heads thereof but only one. For if we add any fellow ⟨image 74⟩to Jesus Christ, it is a bereaving him of the thing that God his father hath given too him alone. Let us be contented that he maketh us partakers of all his benefits, upon condition that we acknowledge all things too come from him, and seek all things in him. For in the five and fortieth Psalm it is well showed,² that we are all of us fellows with Jesus Christ, and that we receive some portion of all the good things that were given unto him.

This matter is layd foorth more at large in the first Chapter too the Colossians. For S. Paule sheweth there, that our Lord Iesus Christ,