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…

Saint Paul hath showed heretofore, that our salvation is the true looking glass, wherein too behold the infinite glory of God: for it is his will, too be known by his goodness above all things. And for that cause also hath he showed, that God chose us before the making of the world, howbeit not in respect of any thing that could be found in us: but too content his own only mercy. Here therefore he concludeth that matter, and showeth what he meant when he told us, that our adoption hangeth and proceedeth of Gods choosing of us in his own everlasting purpose, that is too wit, too the intent we should be as it were clean defaced, and confess that whatsoever we be, and whatsoever goodness we have, we hold it all wholly of God and of his only free goodness. That is the cause why he sayeth, that we be saved by grace, not of our selves, but by Gods gift, and not by works. It had bin enough ••o have excluded all the goodness and virtue that man could imagine. But forasmuch as it is hard to beat down the pride whereto we be too much given: S. Paul rehearseth this matter again, too the end it might be the better understood, and confirmed more at large. And therewithal we have too mark, how he matcheth faith against it, as well too show the mean whereby too come too salvation, as also too ⟨image 91⟩[…] ⟨p. 75⟩[…] ⟨image 92⟩more therefore doth it stand us on hand, too mark well the thing that is said in this strain, which is, that we be saved by grace, and that we do nothing at all too it, but that God giveth us all that ever belongeth too our salvation. And why? Because we can do nothing at all: we have neither good works nor deser•es too allege for our selves.

SSaint Paule hath shewed heeretoofore, that our saluatiō is the true looking glasse, wherein too behold the infinite glorye of God: for it is his will, too be knowne by his goodnesse aboue all things. And for that cause also hath he shewed, that God choze vs before the making of the world, howbeeit not in respect of any thing that could bee found in vs: but too content his owne onely mercie. Here therefore he concludeth that matter, and sheweth what he ment when he told vs, that our adoption hangeth and proceedeth of Gods chozing of vs in his owne euerlasting purpose, that is too wit, too the intent wee should be as it were cleane defaced, and confesse that whatsoeuer wee bee, and whatsoeuer goodnesse wee haue, wee hold it all wholly of God and of his onely free goodnesse. That is the cause why he sayeth, that wee bee saued by grace, not of our selues, but by Gods gift, and not by works. It had bin ynough o haue excluded all the goodnesse and vertue that man could imagin. But for asmuch as it is hard to beate downe the pride wherto wee bee too much giuen: S. Paule reherceth this matter agein, too the end it might bee the better vnderstoode, and confirmed more at large. And therwithall wee haue too mark, how he matcheth fayth ageinst it, as well too shewe the meane wherby too come too saluation, as also too