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 he addeth, too good works which he hath prepared for us to walk in. His setting down of good works in this place, is to show, what a folly, or rather what a madness and franticness it is in men, too bear themselves in hand that they can bring good works on their behalf, as who should say, they had them in their sleeves, or as if they were of their own growing. For needs must God have prepared them (saith he) and that we should have them at his hand. And it is all one as if he should say, go too, show here your prowess and virtues: enter a little into account with God: seeing your pride will not be daunted, but ye have all ways some bristles set up still, bring forth all that ye think may make for ye. Well, say you, and we will bring our good works, as the Papists are wont to do: who allege in this wise: what? how now? shall we not be saved by our own merits, and by our good works? And whence draw ye them, sayeth S. Paul? Have ye coined them in your own shop? or ⟨image 96⟩have ye some garden of your own planting, whence too gather them? or spring they, I wot not how, of your own travel and policy, so as you may further your selves by them? No, but contrariwise, know ye that God hath prepared them. And is it meet that you should fall too replying against him, when he hath pitied you, and showed himself bountiful towards you? Is it meet that ye should presume too step forth too pay him, as though ye had wherewith of your own? When a man hath bin well kept and tended, and his host hath lent him money at his need, and he hath received it at his hand (too pay him withal:) shall he afterward boast, that he hath paid his host? There is an host, that not only is contented too do his charity upon a man, but also after he hath found him both at bed and at board, will say too him, Hold here wherewith too pay: too the intent it may not seem too you, that my charitable dealing hath bin too make an underling of you, I will receive payment for it at your hand, yea, •ut yet the same shall come out of mine own purse. Now, shall he too whom such frankness hath bin used, go and say, he hath well paid his host? Yea, and with what money? Even with the same money that was put into his hand.

Now he addeth, too good vvoorkes vvhich he hath prepared for vs to vvalke in. His setting down of good woorkes in this place, is to shew, what a follie, or rather what a madnesse and frentiknesse it is in men, too beare themselues in hand that they can bring good workes on their behalf, as who should say, they had thē in their sleeues, or as if they were of their owne growing. For needes must God haue prepared them (sayth he) and that wee should haue them at his hand. And it is all one as if he should say, go too, shew heere your prowesse and vertewes: enter a litle into account with God: seeing your pryde will not bee daunted, but yee haue all wayes some bristles set vp still, bring foorth all that yee think may make for yee. Well, say you, and wee will bring our good workes, as the Papistes are wont to doo: who alledge in this wyse: what? how now? shall we not be saued by our owne merites, and by our good workes? And whence draw ye them, sayeth S. Paule? Haue yee coyned them in your owne shop? or