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…

Paul, is, that we belong not too our Lord Jesus Christ, ne can be of Gods Church, except it be by following the pure doctrine of the Law and the Gospel, and by forsaking (as ye would say) all the filth and abomination that men have devised by their own dreams and dotages, how fair colour of wisdom soever they bear. For they will find store enough of fine peddlery, too make folk believe that their adding of so many gewgaws, is not without cause. But howsoever they fare, if we covet too be joined and united too Jesus Christ, we must so abide in him, as too make none account of any other thing.

Paule, is, that wee belong not too our Lord Iesus Christ, ne can bee of Gods Church, except it be by following the pure doctrine of the Lawe and the Gospell, and by forsaking (as yee would say) all the filth and abhomination that men haue deuyzed by their owne dreames and dotages, how fayre colour of wisdome soeuer they beare. For they will fynd store ynough of fyne pedlery, too make folke beleeue that their adding of so many gewgawes, is not without cause. But howsoeuer they fare, if wee couet too bee ioyned and vnited too Iesus Christ, we must so abyde in him, as too make none account of any other thing.

And therewithal we see also, that too be taken for Gods children, we must give our winds too true concord. For S. Paul setteth down both twain of them here: and in very deed, they be things inseparable, that Christians being taught Gods word purely, should with one hart and one mind receive the things that are so set forth unto them, and have brotherly concord among them, too speak as it were with one mouth, and too make one pure and simple confession. Then like as hitherto we have seen that we must be builded upon Gods pure word alone: so it is showed us here, that we must not every of us be bent too his own opinion, but frame our selves too the unity of faith, accordingly as S. Paul speaketh thereof in the third too the Philippians, saying▪ if ye intend too be perfect, aim ye all at one ⟨image 125⟩mark, and be ye knit truly together in one. For we know how ambition tickleth us continually, and every man would fain have somewhat by himself, too set out his own estimation withal. For the very cause whereof came all the heresies that ever were, is this pride so deeply rooted in mens harts, that whereas all of us ought too be learners, every of us will needs be teachers. And in very deed he that is to teach other folks, must not set forth any thing of his own, but purely impart unto them the things that he hath learned of our Lord Jesus Christ. And so because men are so froward, that they covet always too know more than is lawful for them: therefore they misbehave them selves, and every man would keep a school, too make a show of him self. But it is said (here) that in stead of this dealing, we must be knit together, that we may speak all as it were with one mouth, and confess that we have but one God, and one Father, by showing our selves too have no mo masters, but only Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, it is true that such a concord would not be enough: but I have told you already, at what end we must begin: that is too wit, at the pure instruction which we receive of the Prophets and Apostles. The Papists brag too too much of their agreement: and so may they do full well, for the devil possesseth them in such wise, that they be wholly sotted in it. In deed there is jangling & jarring enough among them, & they snatch one at another like Curdogs, when they be in their own Synagogues: