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…

Now had this text bin well understood, surely the wretched world should not be in such disorder, as we see it is. For what is the cause th•• men have devised so many ways of salvation, but for that they ⟨image 123⟩have not known the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, as it is showed us here? And in good sooth let a man look upon all the inventions of the Papists, and he shall find that there is no end of their superstitiousness: and yet in the mean while they have as good as forgotten Jesus Christ, or rather buried him in such sort, as they have had no regard of him. And was it not a corrupting and falsifying of Gods truth, when men knew not whereto it tended, nor too what end it was given, namely how it was given too keep us wholly too our Lord Jesus Christ,¹ that we might cleave to him, and find rest too our souls, as he himself sayeth? Again, on the other side, whereupon do the Papists ground themselves at this day? Even upon their Councils, upon their decrees, upon the things that men have invented of their own brain: and yet they would needs bear us on hand, that all perfection is too be had there. For as for the things that Jesus Christ and his Apostles have taught, they be but entrances, say they: yea and they be not ashamed too say, that those things are but as an Ap•ie, and that Jesus Christ forbore too speak of the things that were more high and excellent, so as the holy scripture is but as a Catechism for little children, and that too attain too the age of perfection, we must have holy Councils, wherein God revealeth the mysteries that were unknown afore. Now seeing that the devil hath so utterly bewitched and blinded them, that they have laboured too thrust Gods word under foot, too the end we should stray and wander here and there without any good direction: we have so much the more cause too bear in mind the thing that S. Paul telleth us here, which is, that we must mislike whatsoever is added too the holy scripture, assuring our selves that God hath given such charge too his Prophets and Apostles, as he forgot not any thing that was profitable or expedient for our salvation:

Now had this text bin well vnderstoode, surely the wretched world should not bee in such disorder, as wee see it is. For what is the cause th•• men haue deuized so manie wayes of saluation, but for that they