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…

Again, S. Paul showeth us, that too be settled in our Lord Jesus Christ, and too be furthered in all the good things that are given us by him: we must have his word, that we may be builded upp•• it, and grow upon it more and more: and that too bring the same too pass, we must be teachable: and from day •oo day labour too seek new help there too strengthen our faith withal, which shall never be perfect in this world, as we find sufficiently by experience. Thus ye see what S. Paul meant by that▪ which he sayeth here, concerning our growing and going forward in the said building, howbeit unto the Lord, sayeth he: showing thereby that too have a goodly show, is not all (that is required at our hands) but that the chief point is, that God like well of us, and that we be wholly given unto him, so as he have place and room in us, and dwell in us as in his Temple. For the Papists will make a far greater show then we on the […] side: they have great multitudes, wherewith they be puffed up […] the ⟨p. 109⟩uttermost. A•d thereupon they despise us, because we be but a handful of men (in comparison of them.) What, (say they) doth not Christendom extend through all Europe, Greece, and Africa? And yet see how these rascals that have neither authority nor credit, nor any thing else in them, will needs be counted the Chruch. Ye see then that the Papists shake us of with devilish pride & malapertness, because they have on their side great pomp, and all manner of riches, insomuch that if a man go into their temples, he is ravished at them, as if he were in an earthly paradise. But all is not gold that glistereth. And although their pomp be able too blear the eyes of poor ignorant souls, whom we see too be carried away in deed with such things: Yet are they all no better but abomination before God. And so S. Paul showeth us that we must not spite the Papists, though they be very many in number, and greatly multiplied: for they be but a head without a body, or rather but a bumbasted and counterfeit body. Too be short, that which the Papists term their Church, is a very monster. For it hath no head, because Jesus Christ hath not preeminence over it, no nor any part or portion in it. Too the end therefore that we might know how we should grow: it is said unto us, that we must grow unto the Lord, and in Spirit, saith S. Paul.