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…

Thereupon S. Paul addeth further, that they were at that time without Christ. And this serveth too show yet better, that men are horrible scattered, and can do nothing but run astray, till God have knit them together in the body of his son, and adopted them too be his children. For we know that Jesus Christ is the light of the world, and that all righteousness dwelleth in him, and that he is our redemption and life. So long then as we have none acquaintance with him, we must needs be as poor blind men in the dark, we must needs be as good as dead, we must needs be naked of all holiness, ⟨image 99⟩righteousness, power, and all goodness. And forasmuch as our freedom dependeth upon him: we must needs be held under the tyranny of the devil and of sin, till he have ransomed us from them. For this cause therefore doth S. Paul send us here under the person of the Ephesians, too Jesus Christ, too the end, that they which are not partakers of Gods son, should know that it were better for them too be drowned a hundred times, than too continue always in that state. And why? For sith we can have neither life nor soul health nor righteousness, nor ought else that is allowable, but in Jesus Christ: it is all one as if he said, that we have nothing but utter naughtiness and destruction in our selves.

Theruppon S. Paule addeth further, that they were at that tyme vvithout Christ. And this serueth too shewe yit better, that men are horrible scattered, and can do nothing but runne astraye, till God haue knit them toogither in the bodie of his sonne, and adopted them too bee his children. For wee knowe that Iesus Christ is the lyght of the worlde, and that all ryghtuousnesse dwelleth in him, and that he is our redemption and lyfe. So long then as wee haue none acquayntance with him, wee must needes bee as poore blynd men in the darke, wee must needes bee as good as dead, wee must needes bee naked of all holynesse, ⟨image 99⟩ryghtuousenesse, power, and all goodnesse. And forasmuch as our freedome dependeth vppon him: wee must needes bee hild vnder the tyrannie of the diuell and of sin, till he haue raunsomed vs from them. For this cause therfore doth S. Paule send vs heere vnder the person of the Ephesians, too Iesus Christ, too the end, that they which are not parttakers of Gods sonne, should knowe that it were better for them too bee drowned a hundred tymes, than too continew alwayes in that state. And why? For sith wee can haue nother lyfe nor soule health nor ryghtuousenesse, nor ought else that is allowable, but in Iesus Christ: it is all one as if he sayed, that wee haue nothing but vtter naughtinesse and destruction in our selues.