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 yet notwithstanding he sayeth, that it was Christ himself that preached, namely too the end we should yield the greater reverence too the Gospel, and hold it as the truth authorized by God, and every of us submit himself too it without any gainsaying or replying. For if we have any doubt of it, let us not think that Jesus Christ shall boot us any thing at all. Therefore we must assure our selves of it, yea and (as we have seen in the first Chapter) Gods promises must be sealed in our harts by the holy Ghost, who for the same cause is called the earnest penny of the life that we hope for, and the very sign, manual, or seal that God printeth in us, too the end, that our faith should be in full certainty. We see then whereat S. Paul aimed in this text, in saying that Jesus Christ being raised from the dead, and having performed the charge that was enjoined him by God his father, was our Redeemer, and also the bringer of the same me• sage unto us, not for once and away, but by continual preaching of it, insomuch that he will have his mouth still open even too the end, too witness unto us, that in him we shall assuredly find all that we can wish too bring us too the heavenly life. Now then must we not be very blocks, if we be not touched too the quick, at the hearing of these words? It is true that the son of God fleeteth not from place too place, nor is conversant here beneath among us in visible fashion, neither were that requisite. But yet for all that, the doctrine which we preach in his name, ought too have like authority, as if he spake to us himself mouth to mouth. And for the same cause also doth he say,¹ He that heareth you, heareth me, and he that receiveth you, receiveth me:² and likewise, he that rejecteth you, rejecteth me. And again,³ by this means is God my father honoured, even by your ⟨p. 97⟩believing of the Gospel. And contrariwise he hath great wrong and reproach done unto him, when the things are doubted of that are so well certified there. The Pope & all the rabble of his Clergy allege this for the maintenance of their tyranny. But our Lord Jesus Christs meaning was, too warrant us the message that concerneth the forgiveness of our sins, wherewith our ears are beaten continually.