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…

Well then, it seemeth at the first blush, that we should shake of the Gentiles, as unclean persons, and such as have none acquaintance with God. But let us come too account (sayeth he) a•• ⟨p. 68⟩there is none of us all but he is endangered unto God, & must needs perceive himself too be a wretched sinner. Sith it is so, God must be the judge of all men, and we must needs sink before his majesty, till we be reconciled unto him by our Lord Jesus Christ. Too be short, S. Pauls meaning in this text, is not too deface Gods grace, but too show that the Jews had not any other mean in themselves whereby too obtain the salvation and heritage of heaven, than only by being members of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that they must always be fain too take themselves first for cursed and damned. For the worthiness which they have is but as a windfall, & they be borne in sin, and subject too cursedness, no less than all other men, and Gods accepting and choosing of them too himself, was a special and (as they say) a supernatural gift. Ye see then that by nature the Jews are forlorn as well as the rest of the whole world, and yet nevertheless that God hath also received them too mercy.

Well then, it seemeth at the first blush, that wee should shake of the Gentyles, as vncleane persons, and such as haue none acquaintance with God. But let vs come too account (sayeth he) a•• ⟨p. 68⟩there is none of vs all but he is indaungered vntoo God, & must needes perceyue himselfe too bee a wretched sinner. Sith it is so, God must bee the iudge of all men, and we must needes sinke before his maiestie, till wee bee reconcyled vntoo him by our Lord Iesus Christ. Too bee short, S. Paules meaning in this text, is not too deface Gods grace, but too shewe that the Iewes had not any other meane in themselues whereby too obteyne the saluation and heritage of heauen, than onely by beyng members of our Lord Iesus Christ, and that they must alwayes bee fayne too take themselues first for cursed and damned. For the woorthinesse which they haue is but as a wyndfall, & they be borne in sinne, and subiect too cursednesse, no lesse than all other men, and Gods accepting and choozing of them too himself, was a speciall and (as they saye) a supernaturall gift. Yee see then that by nature the Iewes are forlorne as well as the rest of the whole world, and yit neuerthelesse that God hath also receiued them too mercy.