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…

We see then what baptism importeth, and consequently how much we ought too esteem this grace of Gods coming unto us in such wise, and of his showing of himself too be our father after so homely ⟨p. 84⟩manner. As much is too be said of the supper. For there it is showed us visibly, that Jesus Christ is the true food of our s•ules, that like as our bodies are sustained & nourished with the bread and wine, so we have our spiritual life of the very substance of Gods son. Seeing then that our Lord Jesus doth as it were from hand too hand show us, that he giveth us his body and blood too be our spiritual meat and drink: is it not a thing much more worth than all things that are too be found in this world? And herein we see how malicious and froward most men are: for as touching the Lords Supper, many come to it, which rush thither like wretched beasts, not knowing why it was ordained. Some again make but a custom & ordinary use of it: & although they have bin taught to what purpose it availeth us: yet they do but wring their mouth at it, & all is one to them, when it is once past with them. And othersome defile it even wilfully. And as touching baptism, we see how the world goeth with it. For whereas we ought to think daily, & not only once a day, but every hour of the day, both upon Baptism, & also upon the Lords supper, to confirm our selves the better in Gods grace: so little doth any man set his mind that way, that if baptism be ministered in the Church, men make none account of it. Scarcely can one be found among a hundred, that can fitly tell and utter what that sign of our adoption betokeneth. And yet ye see what disdain is matched with that ignorance. Must not God after his long suffering of us, and his patient waiting for us, be revenged of such dishonour, when his grace is so lightly esteemed among us? So much the more therefore doth it stand us in hand, too mark well what S. Paul telleth us here, when he sayeth, that the Gentiles being deprived of the Sacraments which God giveth too his children for a warrant of his goodness and love, are in miserable taking, too the end we may learn too make much of the privilege which he hath given us, not too boast foolishly of it, as hypocrites do, who abuse Gods name continually:

Wee see then what baptim importeth, and consequently how much we ought too esteeme this grace of Gods comming vntoo vs in such wyse, and of his shewing of himself too bee our father after so homely ⟨p. 84⟩