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…

After the same manner speaketh God, that he thinks not himself full and perfect, but by gathering of us too him, and by making us all one with himself. He taketh his whole pleasure in us, and will have his glory too shine forth in us, so as his beams may shed out on all sides. And although the whole glory be in himself: Yet will he have it seen, how it is his will that we should have our part and portion of it. Thus you see in effect what S. Paul meant by calling the Church, the accomplishment of God and of Jesus Christ. Now then, can we be excused before God, when we say that we cannot come at him, seeing we be his body in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ? If one of our feet being diseased, would run I wot not whither, and range up and down, saying, I go too seek remedy so••e where else: and for performance thereof, would be cut of from the body: if (say I) that the members of a body had any understanding and discretion, and could speak after that manner: were it not a madness that the foot should say, he would be rent from the body, ⟨p. 59⟩too seek else where the thing that it wanteth? Even so when the Papists and other Idolaters allege that they must be fain too serve their turn by the Saints, and too have divers mediators and means too bring them too God: it is all one as if they should say, Jesus Christ is nobody, neither have we any success or entrance unto him. Yea, are the members separated from the head? Of a truth, S. Paul hath here accused and condemned all those of unthankfulness and unkindness, which under colour of unworthiness too come unto God, do deuyze themselves new means, and separate themselves from Jesus Christ, and diminish his power, and rend it in pieces. S. Paul condemneth them for that they cannot find in their hearts too accept the benefit and privilege that is offered them, in that our Lord Jesus Christ hath vouchsafed too become all one with them, as with his own body. Now then let us learn too have such familiarity with our Lord Jesus Christ, as too resort unto him at all times whensoever we be warned of our defaults and wants.

After the same manner speaketh God, that he thinkes not himselfe full and perfect, but by gathering of vs too him, and by making vs all one with himselfe. He taketh his whole pleasure in vs, and will haue his glory too shine foorth in vs, so as his beames may sheade out on all sides. And although the whole glory bee in himselfe: Yit will he haue it seene, how it is his will that wee should haue our part and portion of it. Thus you see in effect what S. Paule ment by calling the Churche, the accomplishment of God and of Iesus Christ. Now then, can wee bee excuzed before God, when wee say that wee cannot come at him, seing wee bee his bodie in the person of our Lord Iesus Christ? If one of our feete being diseased, would runne I wote not whither, and raunge vp and downe, saying, I go too seeke remedie soe where else: and for performance thereof, would bee cut of from the bodie: if (say I) that the members of a bodie had any vnderstanding and discretion, and could speake after that maner: were it not a madnesse that the foote should say, he would bee rent from the bodie,