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…

He addeth thereunto, the common weal of Israel: showing thereby that all the promises which were made too the Jews, were grounded upon Jesus Christ. And therefore they that belong not too his body, are forthwith deprived of all Gods promises, and cannot conceive any hope of life, but only by imagination, wherein they beguile themselves. And verily he addeth, the instruments (or covenants and conveyances) of the promises: as if he should say, that God had not called the Jews as it were in hudder mudder, but had passed a solemn conveyance or evidence, which served too leave all the world in condemnation. Therefore forasmuch as God had advanced Abraham's linage, it must needs be that the rest of the world was so much the more confounded, like as if some Princes or some Cities should make a league, all others that are not comprehended in it, are as good as deprived of the benefit that is contained in it. And when God declared that he took the Jews too be his flock, and that he would be their father and saviour: he declared also that no part thereof could come to the Gentiles, whom he had after a sort forsaken, and to whom he had not vouchsafed too show the like mercy. Finally he sayeth, that they had bin without God, which is the full measure of all mischief. For what shall become of man, when his God hath so shaken him of, as there is no access for him, nor no coming too him again? And that not only he is forsaken of his God, but also cannot but plunge himself deeper and deeper into the bottom of hell, and make war against God, as though he were at defiance with him, because he is stubborn and rebellious against all goodness? Thus ye see, that the thing which S. Paul setteth forth here, too the intent that the Ephesians should profit themselves, by the things that he had said this morning ⟨p. 83⟩concerning the only cause of our salvation: is that there is none other thing for us too trust unto, but only Gods mere grace.

He addeth thereunto, the common weale of Israel: shewing thereby that all the promises which were made too the Iewes, were grounded vppon Iesus Christ. And therefore they that belong not too his body, are foorthwith depryued of all Gods promises, and cannot conceyue any hope of lyfe, but onely by imagination, wherin they beguile themselues. And verily he addeth, the instrumentes (or couenantes and conueyaunces) of the promises: as if he should say, that God had not called the Iewes as it were in hudder mudther, but had passed a solemne conueyance or euidence, which serued too leaue all the world in condemnation. Therfore forasmuch as God had aduaunced Abrahams linage, it must needes bee that the rest of the world was so much the more confounded, like as if some Princes or some Cities should make a league, all others that are not comprehended in it, are as good as depriued of the benefite that is conteyned in it. And when God declared that he tooke the Iewes too bee his flocke, and that he would be their father and sauiour: he declared also that no part thereof could come to the Gentiles, whom he had after a sort forsaken, and to whom he had not voutsafed too shew the like mercy. Finally he sayeth, that they had bin vvithout God, which is the full measure of all mischief. For what shall become of man, when his God hath so shaken him of, as there is no accesse for him, nor no comming too him agein? And that not onely he is forsaken of his God, but also cannot but plundge himselfe deeper and deeper intoo the bottom of hell, and make warre ageinst God, as though he were at defiāce with him, bicause he is stubburne and rebellious ageinst all goodnesse? Thus yee see, that the thing which S. Paule setteth forth here, too the intent that the Ephesians should profit themselues, by the things that he had sayd this morning