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…

And how much more precious and worthy is that life wherein we shall be partakers of Gods glory, than this wayfaring which we make in this world, that is but a shadow that vanisheth away out of hand? Now if ye ask the Papists of whom they have the (heavenly) life, we have it partly of Gods grace (say they) and partly of our own freewill. Forasmuch then as they father some piece thereof upon themselves, and think too part stakes after that fashion with God: we must conclude that they be their own creators. But hereupon they will reply, and protest that they never meant any such thing, and that they had lever dye, than too utter any such blasphemy. Yea, but in the mean while, which is the thing of greater value? too create a mans self too be a mortal man in this world, or too purchase everlasting life? S. Paul telleth us, that if we can do any thing by our own freewill and power, God is not fully our creator. But he sayeth, we be his workmanship and of his making, yea even in respect of the heavenly life: it behoveth us too bear that always in mind: for S. Paul speaketh not of this transitory life, but of the inheriting of the kingdom of heaven. We see then that the Papists defy God in their pride, like villainous blasphemers as they be. And therefore for our part, if we mind too be partakers of the grace which is purchased for us by our Lord Jesus Christ, we must be rid clean of all selfweening, and acknowledge that our beginning too do well, springeth of Gods vouchsafing too call us too him, and of his preventing ⟨image 95⟩of us through his own free goodness. Too be short, S. Pauls meaning is, that all they which think themselves too have deserved aught at Gods hand, do bear themselves on hand, that they be men of great ability, whereas in deed they be already dead, & are nothing at all. What can a dead man do? And surely we be dead (as I have declared heretofore) till God quicken us again by the means of faith, and by the working of his holy spirit. Now if we be dead, what good can we do, or whereunto can we dispose cur selves? Again, we be nothing at all: for the word Create, importeth that all that •uer is in us, is of Gods putting into us.

And how much more precious and woorthie is that lyfe wherin wee shallbee parttakers of Gods glorie, than this wayfaring which wee make in this world, that is but a shadowe that vanisheth away out of hand? Now if yee aske the Papistes of whom they haue the (heauenly) lyfe, wee haue it partly of Gods grace (say they) and partly of our owne feeewill. Forasmuch then as they father some peece therof vppon themselues, and thinke too part stakes after that fashyon with God: wee must conclude that they bee their owne creators. But heeruppon they will reply, and protest that they neuer ment any such thing, and that they had leuer dye, than too vtter any such blasphemie. Yea, but in the meane whyle, which is the thing of greater valew? too create a mans self too bee a mortall man in this world, or too purchace euerlasting lyfe? S. Paule telleth vs, that if wee can doo any thing by our owne freewill and power, God is not fully our creator. But he sayeth, wee bee his woorkmanship and of his making, yea euen in respect of the heauenly lyfe: it behoueth vs too beare that alwayes in mynd: for S. Paule speaketh not of this transitorie lyfe, but of the inheriting of the kingdome of heauen. Wee see then that the Papistes defye God in their pryde, lyke villanous blasphemers as they bee. And therefore for our part, if wee mynde too bee parttakers of the grace which is purchaced for vs by our Lord Iesus Christ, wee must bee rid cleane of all selfweening, and acknowledge that our beginning too doo well, springeth of Gods voutsafing too call vs too him, and of his preuenting