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…

Furthermore forasmuch as we be short witted in magnifying Gods grace, let us weigh well this word which S. Paul useth here to bring us to remembrance of the things which we might forget. For when we be endued with Gods grace, and it hath pleased him too give us some good desire too walk in his fear, & he hath wrought so in us by his holy spirit, as men may perceive that there is some goodness in us: it may make us too forget by and by what we were afore, by means whereof Gods grace is as good as buried. Too the intent therefore that our present plight hinder not our continual praising of God, and our esteeming of his goodness and grace as it deserveth: let no length of time darken the benefits that we have received ⟨image 100⟩of God, but let us as it were enter into examination of them every day. And although God have changed our state at this day, so as we be no more the men that we were afore: yet notwithstanding let us bear in mind, that before God had pity upon us, we were as silly sheep that went astray, and as beasts that are utterly lost, and that without the same small beginning, we had bin damned ten hundred thousand times erst, had not God prevented us, and given us remedy for the cursed state wherein we were. Ye see then, that the thing which we have to consider upon the said speech, whereby S. Paul putteth the Ephesians in mind, what they were afore, is, that although God had put away the thing that should have made them ashamed, and marked them afore hand with his holy spirit, so as they were become as precious pearls: yet notwithstanding he will have them too bethink themselves, (like as in very deed it is, the fruits of repentance which the scripture setteth down,) that when God hath reached us his hand, and brought us home again from our straying, we cease not too bethink us of our (former) sins, even in such wise as we may be sorry, abashed, and ashamed of them.

Furthermore for asmuch as wee bee short witted in magnifying Gods grace, let vs wey well this woord which S. Paule vseth heere to bring vs to remembrance of the things which wee myght forget. For when wee bee indewed with Gods grace, and it hath pleased him too giue vs some good desyre too walk in his feare, & he hath wrought so in vs by his holye spirit, as men may perceyue that there is some goodnesse in vs: it maye make vs too forget by and by what wee were afore, by meanes wherof Gods grace is as good as buryed. Too the intent therfore that our present plyght hinder not our continuall praysing of God, and our esteeming of his goodnesse and grace as it deserueth: let no length of tyme darken the benefites that we haue receyued