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…

13 Now in Jesus Christ, you that erst were far of, are mad• near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, which hath of both •wayne made one, and broken down the wall that was betwixt them, 15 That is too wit, the enmity, through his flesh, abolishing the law of the commandments which were in ordinances: too the end he might set them both in himself, to make one new man of them.

13 Novv in Iesus Christ, you that erst vvere farre of, are mad• neere by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, vvhich hath of both •vvayne made one, and broken dovvne the vvall that vvas betvvixt them, 15 That is too vvit, the emnitie, through his flesh, aboolishing the lavve of the comm•undements vvhich vvere in ordinances: too the end he might set them both in himself, to make one nevv man of them.

We have see•e heretofore how we be all enemies of God by nature, because we be gone away from all rightuou••••sse, through the sin of Adam, so as there is nothing in us but lewdness and rebelliousness. And although men soothe and flatter themselves, it is certain, that they cannot bring any thing before God, which shall not provoke his […] God then must needs disclaim us for his […] we must be fain too be guided by our Lord Jesus Christ: for we cannot come unto God but by that mean. […] had some familiarity with God, because he had adopted them: in respect whereof it is said, that Abraham's offspring was holy: not that they had more worthiness than the rest of the world: but because of Gods goodness who had vouchsafed too choose them. And therefore before such time as our Lord Jesus Christ came into the ⟨p. 89⟩world, the one were in comparison nearer, & the other were further of from God. Not that the Jews were better worth than the Gentiles, as I said afore: but because it had pleased God too account the as of his own house. Ye see then that they were nigh, because it was said unto them, that God ate among them, and that they were a priestly kingdom, whereof they had also as it were a visible sign by the records that were given them, as by the Sanctuary and by all the appurtenances thereunto belonging. Now S. Paul framing here his matter too the Gentiles, sayeth, that they have changed their state, because that whereas they were far of from God, they were made near him by the cross of Jesus Christ: And that serveth too the magnifying of Gods grace the more. For as I have declared heretofore, if we consider not in what plight God finds us before he reach us his hand too draw us too him: we shall never know how much we be beholden and bound unto him, nor how great his mercy is towards us. But when it is showed us, that even from our birth we be cursed, and the devil holdeth us under his tyranny, and we be in thraldom unto sin, and God is as it were armed against us, too be our judge with all extremity: