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…

Now hereupon he addeth, that he hath made us too sit in the heavenly places with our Lord Jesus Christ. This serveth too magnify the grace that we have hitherto spoken of, yet so much the more. If he had said in one word, that we were quickened: it had bin enough, and it ought well too have inflamed our hearts to sing Gods praises, and too occupy our selves therein, and too apply all our endeavours thereunto. But here is a greater vehemency, because of our coldness and laziness. For S. Paul hath showed on the one side, that we were dead and held in bondage under the tyranny of Satan. Alas, these are terrible things. And now he setteth down on the other side, that God hath not only loved us, but also glorified us in himself, and that we be lifted up from the bottom of hell, aloft unto the kingdom of heaven, where he hath lodged us, and given us seats among his Angels. Seeing then that we hear this, needs must we be to much doted, & our wits too much brutish, if we make not in good earnest too glorify the inestimable goodness of our God, and too conclude, that we be so beholden and bound unto him, that although we should do nothing else all our life long, but preach the grace that we have felt by experience at his hand, yet it were nothing at all. And so ye see why S. Paul hath purposely set down, that we be lifted up too heaven wi•h Jesus Christ. And hereupon we have a very profitable exhortation too gather, which is, that although we be here in the mire, and do but crawl like poor frogs: yet ought we to bear this state patiently, for so much as on the other side God hath lifted us up so high, even us that were nothing, yea and cursed creatures too. And therefore whensoever we be fain too suffer hunger & thirst in this world, or be mocked by unbelievers, or put to the abiding of many outrages, let us resort too that which is said here: namely, that yet nevertheless we be set already in heaven with Jesus Christ, howbeit not in such wise, that it is apparent unto our eyes. For in this behalf we must give place too hope, and unto that which is said in another text,¹ namely that our life is hid, and that we must hold our selves quiet, till it appear at the coming of our Lord Jesus ⟨p. 73⟩Christ.

Now heeruppon he addeth, that he hath made vs too sit in the heauenly places vvith our Lord Iesus Christ. This serueth too magnifye the grace that we haue hithertoo spoken of, yit so much the more. If he had sayd in one woord, that wee were qickened: it had bin ynough, and it ought well too haue inflamed our hartes to sing Gods prayses, and too occupye our selues therin, and too apply al our indeuers theruntoo. But heere is a greater vehemencie, bycause of our coldnesse and lazinesse. For S. Paule hath shewed on the one syde, that wee were dead and hild in bondag vnder the tyrannye of Satan. Alas, these are terrible things. And now he setteth downe on the other syde, that God hath not only loued vs, but also glorifyed vs in himself, and that wee bee lifted vp from the bottom of hell, aloft vntoo the kingdome of heauen, where he hath lodged vs, and giuen vs seates among his Angells. Seing then that wee heare this, needes must wee bee to much doted, & our witts too much brutish, if we make not in good earnest too glorifye the inestimable goodnesse of our God, and too conclude, that wee bee so beholden and bound vntoo him, that although wee should doo nothing else all our lyfe long, but preache the grace that wee haue felt by experience at his hand, yit it were nothing at all. And so yee see why S. Paule hath purposely set downe, that wee be lifted vp too heauen wih Iesus Christ. And heeruppon wee haue a very profitable exhortation too gather, which is, that although we bee heere in the myre, and do but craule lyke poore frogges: yit ought we to beare this state paciently, for somuch as on the other syde God hath lyfted vs vp so hygh, euen vs that were nothing, yea and cursed creatures too. And therfore whensoeuer wee be fayne too suffer hunger & thirst in this world, or be mocked by vnbeleeuers, or put to the abiding of manie outrages, let vs resort too that which is sayd heere: namely, that yit neuerhelesse wee be set alredy in heauen with Iesus Christ, howbeeit not in such wyse, that it is apparant vntoo our eyes. For in this behalfe wee must giue place too hope, and vntoo that which is sayd in another text,