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…

The chief point (as I told you this morning) that S. Paul handleth, is, that we should learn too be ashamed, yea and too loth our own wretchedness, by resorting too our original, and by considering in what plight God findeth us, and out of what a dungeon we pass, when God reacheth us his hand. And the second is, that we should magnify his goodness so much the more, because it is an uncredible thing, that he should vouchsafe too cause the doctrine of life too come down too the bottom of hell too quicken us: for we were sunk down thither. Therefore we must mark well these words, where it is said, that God being rich in mercy, quickened us when we were dead, according too the great love which he beareth us. True it is, that this title might always agree unto God, because he neither abateth nor increaseth: and so shall God be evermore rich in goodness. But we must therewithal mark the circumstance of the place, and the matter that S. Paul treateth of here: which is, that God hath uttered the inestimable treasures of his mercy upon us according too the greatness of our miseries. And For that cause also he addeth, the great love wherewith he loved us. For needs must there have bin such a goodness in God, as is able to ravish us, seeing it surmounteth ⟨image 86⟩all our capacity, and that we be not able too taste the hundredth part of it, though we give our selves never so much unto it. And why? For when S. Paul sayeth that God loved us, he speaketh expressly of himself, and of such like, which had bin chosen from among that people, when as the greater part of them was cut of. For although the Jews were the first borne, and had preeminence above us, as by right of inheritance, & that we be but as silly things borne out of season,¹ as S. Paul speaketh of himself: yet notwithstanding we see that they be now banished from Gods kingdom, and are become as a president that ought too make the hear stand up upon our heads, when we behold the wrath and vengeance of God that is uttered upon them. Therefore whereas S. Paul and some small number mo were chosen from among the Jews: it was through Gods love which had the greater appearance towards them.

The cheef poynt (as I told you this morning) that S. Paule handleth, is, that wee should lerne too bee ashamed, yea and too lothe our owne wretchednesse, by resorting too our originall, and by considering in what plyght God findeth vs, and out of what a dungeon wee passe, when God reacheth vs his hand. And the second is, that wee should magnifie his goodnesse so much the more, bycause it is an vncredible thing, that he should voutsafe too cause the doctrine of lyfe too come downe too the bottome of hell too quicken vs: for wee were sunk downe thither. Thefore wee must marke well these wordes, where it is sayd, that God being rich in mercie, quickened vs when wee were dead, according too the great loue which he beareth vs. Trew it is, that this tytle myght alwayes agree vnto God, bycause he nother abateth nor increaseth: and so shall God bee euermore rich in goodnesse. But we must therwithall marke the circumstance of the place, and the matter that S. Paule treateth of heere: which is, that God hath vttered the inestimable treasures of his mercie vpō vs according too the greatnesse of our miseries. And For that cause also he addeth, the great loue wherwith he loued vs. For needes must there haue bin such a goodnesse in God, as is able to rauish vs, seeing it surmounteth