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…

And we must mark also, that Jesus Christ is set down with the common weal of Israel, and with the Sacraments and promises, too show that it is he on whom all of us depend. For it is certain ⟨image 102⟩that God never cometh at men without the mediator. For sith he hateth unrighteousness, & all men are cursed in Adam: it was requisite that our Lord Jesus Christ should step in, that we might have some entrance and access unto God.¹ And that is the cause why S. Paul sayeth also, that he is the yea and the Amen of all Gods promises. For there shall never be any certainty of Gods promises without Jesus Christ.² And for the same cause also all things were dedicated in the Law with blood, yea and even the book of the Law it self. When the covenant was red openly,³ and published solemnly too the people, the book was besprinkled with the blood of the sacrifice, too show that all the doctrine contained in the Law, and all the promises whereby God adopteth those too be his children, whom he hath admitted into his Church, must be confirmed by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, will we have the promises too be sure and infallible? Will we be assured of them, that we may freely call upon God, and fight against all temptations? We must resort always too Jesus Christ. It is much when God telleth us with his own holy mouth, that he will reserve us for his own: but yet must we needs tremble continually at his majesty, till we have cast our eye upon our Lord Jesus Christ, and know that God liketh well of us for his sake, so as our sins be buried, and shall never come too account. Thus ye see how the promises, the Sacraments, and all that ever we have, must be ratified by Jesus Christ. Too be short, (if I may make an humane comparison, and speak gr•ssely) he is the true sauce too make all things savoury that belong too our salvation. For without him, we should continue evermore as men in a swoon, and (as I have said already) we could conceive no hope at all, nor have our minds so settled, as we might resort unto God for refuge. Not without cause therefore doth Saint Paul say, that such as have no Circumcision, nor other Sacraments whereby too be consecrated unto God, nor any prmyses of salvation, are without Christ.