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 for further confirmation, S. Paul addeth hereupon, that we be Gods workmanship. He means not this of Gods creating of us, and of his setting of us in this world: but his meaning is, •hat men, as they be borne in Adam, are unmeet for the heavenly ⟨p. 77⟩life, and that if they think too get any thing by that, they deceive themselves too much, because they be but as dead creatures, and as carrions wherein is nothing but rotten filthiness. For proof hereof we need too seek no further matter than this present Text, where he saith, that we be created in Jesus Christ. Here therefore S. Paul maketh a comparison of the double birth that is in all the faithful. For we have all of us one general creation, whereby we live in this world: and God createth us new again, when he vouchsafeth too give us newness of life by his Gospel, I mean when he printeth it in our harts and minds by his own secret working: for the word alone were not enough too do it. So then, as in respect of our first creation, there is no difference between the Jews, the Turks, the Heathen men, & us. We are all of us taken out of one Lump, we are all the children of Adam, yea we are all heirs of Gods wrath, and cursed by nature, as we have seen already heretofore. Then if men examine them selves, and search what they be by their first birth: they shall find how there is nothing in us but sin and wickedness, & that the wisdom which we ween our selves too have, is but beastliness: and that the light which we think we have too discern between good and bad, is but stubbornness and stark spitefulness against God: and so ye see we be corrupted in all parts of our soul.

Now for further confirmation, S. Paule addeth hereuppon, that vvee bee Gods vvorkmanship. He meanes not this of Gods creating of vs, and of his setting of vs in this world: but his meaning is, •hat men, as they bee borne in Adam, are vnme•e for the heauenly ⟨p. 77⟩life, and that if they thinke too get any thing by that, they deceyue th•mselues too much, bycause they bee but as dead creatures, and as caryo•s wherein is nothi•g but rotten ilthynesse. For proofe hereof wee neede too seeke no further matter than this present Text, where he sayth, that wee bee created in Iesus Christ. Here therefore S. Paule maketh a comparison of the dubble birth that is in al the faithfull. For wee haue all of vs one generall creation, wherby wee liue in this world: and God createth vs new agein, when he voutsafeth too giue vs newenesse of life by his Gospell, I meane when he printeth it in our harts and mynds by his owne secret working: for the word alone were not ynough too doo it. So then, as in respect of our first creatiō, there is no differēce betwene the Iewes, the Turks, the Heathen men, & vs. Wee are al of vs taken out of one Lump, wee are al the children of Adam, yea wee are all heyres of Gods wrath, and cursed by nature, as wee haue seene alreadie heretoofore. Then if men examine them selues, and searche what they bee by their first birth: they shal finde how there is nothing in vs but sinne and wickednesse, & that the wisedome which wee weene our selues too haue, is but beastlynesse: and that the light whiche wee thinke wee haue too discerne betweene good and bad, is but stubbernesse and starke spytefulnesse ageinst God: and so yee see wee be corrupted in all parts of our soule.