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…

¶The Argument of Saint Pauls Epistle too the Ephesians.

¶The Argument of Saint Paules Epistle too the Ephesians.

IT is well enough known, that Ephesus was a City of the lesser Asia, renowned for many causes. And S. Luke reporteth in the Acts, how our Lord got himself a people there by the service of S. Paul, how the Church began there, and what furtherance it had. As for •ee, I will touch nothing here, but only that which belongeth properly too the argument of the Epistle. Saint Paul had taught the Ephesians •he pure doctrine of the Gospel. And when he was prisoner at Rome, perceiving that they had •eede too be confirmed, he wrote this Epistle too •hem. In the three first Chapters he standeth chiefly upon the praising and magnifying of Gods grace. For in the beginning of the first Chapter, after his greetings, he speaketh of Gods free election, too the end they should know that they were now called too the kingdom of heaven, because they had bin predestinated unto life before they were borne. And herein shineth forth Gods wonderful mercy, that the saving of our souls cometh of Gods free adoption, as of the true •nd natural wellspring thereof. And forasmuch as mens wits are too weak to conceive so high ⟨image 15⟩a secret: he prayeth God to enlighten the Ephes• ans with the full knowledge of Christ.

IT is well ynough knowen, that Ephesus was a Citie of the lesser Asia, renowmed for many causes. And S. Luke reporteth in the Actes, how our Lord got himselfe a people there by the seruice of S. Paule, how the Church be•an there, and what furtherance it had. As for •ee, I will touch nothing heere, but onely that hich belongeth properly too the argument of the Epistle. Saint Paule had taught the Ephesians he pure doctrine of the Gospell. And when he was prisoner at Rome, perceyuing that they had eede too bee confirmed, he wrate this Epistle too hem. In the three first Chapters he standeth heefly vppon the prayzyng and magnyfying of Gods grace. For in the beginning of the first Chapr, after his greetings, he speaketh of Gods free election, too the end they should knowe that they were now called too the kingdome of heauen, bycause they had bin predestinated vntoo lyfe before they were borne. And heerin shineth foorth Gods wonderfull mercy, that the sauing of our soules commeth of Gods free adoption, as of the trew nd naturall welspring thereof. And forasmuch as mens wittes are too weake to conceyue so hygh