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…

but it is a higher thing that we must begin at, namely to know that God is our father, that we be defended and preserved by the light of his word, & enlightened by faith too know the way of salvation, and too assure our selves that our whole welfare lieth in him, so as we seek it there with all lowliness: and also too know the mean whereby too attain too it: that is too wit, by having our Lord Jesus Christ in whom the whole fullness of grace is offered us.

but it is a hygher thing that wee must begin at, namely to knowe that God is our father, that wee bee defended and preserued by the light of his word, & inlightened by fayth too knowe the way of saluation, and too assure our selues that our whole welfare lyeth in him, so as wee seeke it there with al lowelynesse: and also too knowe the meane whereby too atteyne too it: that is too wit, by hauing our Lord Iesus Christ in whom the whole fulnesse of grace is offered vs.

Thus you see what the spiritual life of man is, and where it lieth: that is too wit, in the light of Gods word, and in the working of his holy spirit, so as we be new fashioned again according too the image that was lost, and utterly defaced in us by Adams sin. And is that too be found among worldly men? Yea even among those that are most honoured? No surely. Then is it not without cause that our Lord Jesus useth this similitude, saying, that we be raised from death by means of the Gospel. For flourish we never so much, bear we never so fair a gloss before men, and seem we too have never so much wherefore too be had in estimation: yet are we but wretched carrions, there is nothing but rottenness and filthiness in us, God loatheth us, we be damned and forlorn before him, the Angels abhor us, all creatures curse and ban us, and all things ask vengeance upon us, because we defile them. For there is such corruption in man, that heaven and earth must be infected with it, until God have changed them.¹ The thing then which our Lord Jesus Christs saying importeth, is, that until we be renewed by the Gospel through the faith that proceedeth of it: we be but as dead men, there is not one drop of life in us that deserveth the name of life. And too be short we be as good as buried in our graves, and must be fain to go out of them