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 hereupon S. Paul addeth, you also have heard the dealing forth of Gods grace which was committed too me, as I have written briefly unto you, according as he declared the mystery thereof unto me▪ and you may better understand the knowledge which I have of the mystery of Jesus Christ. Here S. Paul intendeth too prove, that he was ordained an Apostle, not as one that had thrust in himself through rashness or folly, nor as one that had bin advanced by favour of men, nor as one that had light into it by haphazard▪ but as put in by Gods free goodness. And it is not here only that he striveth for the maintenance of his calling, that is too wit, to show that he was an Apostle sent and allowed of God: but he standeth upon that point in many other places.¹ It is true, that he passed not for his own person: but the certainty of the faithful depended thereupon. When we come too hear the Gospel, if we be not throughly persuaded that he is sent of God: surely we may well conceive some wandering opinion, but we shall never be sure, nor have any rest. This then must go first: Namely, that such as teach us be allowed, and that we know them too be employed of God to our salvation, and that they be instruments of his holy Ghost. For otherwise a man may say, what is he? for there is nothing in us by nature, but vanity and leasing. And on the other side, were a man never so well learned and sound, so as there were nothing in him but substantialness and soundness, yet should he not be able too assure us of the forgiveness ⟨image 130⟩of our sins: it is too great and high a thing too warrant us atonement with God, and that he taketh us into his favour, whereas there had bin nothing but deadly enmity before. If the Angels of heaven should say it with one mouth, they could not warrant it us, except they were authorized of God.

Now hereuppon S. Paule addeth, you also haue heard the dealing foorth of Gods grace which was committed too mee, as I haue written briefly vnto you, according as he declared the mistery therof vntoo me▪ and you may better vnderstand the knowledge which I haue of the mistery of Iesus Christ. Here S. Paule intendeth too proue, that he was ordeyned an Apostle, not as one that had thrust in himselfe through rashenesse or folly, nor as one that had bin aduaunced by fauour of men, nor as one that had light intoo it by haphazard but as put in by Gods free goodnesse. And it is not here only that he stryueth for the maintenaunce of his calling, that is too wit, to shewe that he was an Apostle sent and allowed of God: but he standeth vpon that poynt in many other places.