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…

I Have told you heretofore how S. Paul had an eye too two things, showing that he was certainly appointed too publish the Gospel through the whole world, and specially among the Gentiles. For no man ought too go about too usurp any office in the Church, but God ought too have that authority: and according to the everlasting order which he hath set down, let us look too follow the same, so as they that go about too advance themselves,¹ may be put down, and no man take any degree upon him, but he that is called. Therefore mark it for a special point, that S. Paul meant too excuse himself of rashness, by showing that he did not thrust himself in too be an Apostle, but had good and sure warrant that God had appointed him thereto. ⟨p. 117⟩And therewithal also he meant too assure the Gentiles, too the intent they should receive the message of their salvation, as proceeding of God, and not of man. For we must always be at this point, that the forgiveness of sins is too precious a thing for us too be assured of by the authority of man. Then must we be fully resolved, that it is God which speaketh,² too the end we may conclude, that whatsoever is unbound on earth,³ is unbound also in heaven. And forasmuch as S. Paul had erst bin an enemy too the Gospel, and had persecuted the Christians,⁴ and blasphemed God: it seemed that that should have impeached the receiving of him for an Apostle, and the yielding of such reputation too him as was requisite that he should have. Therefore he preventeth the things that might be alleged too bereave him of all reverence, and saith, that they must not have an eye too his own person, nor too his deserving, but too Gods advancing of him by his grace, and by a power that is not ordinary among men. It is true that S. Paul doth always humble himself as much as may be, that men may the better know Gods free bestowed goodness. And that also is the rule that we must hold, because God will have all mouths st•pped, and none of us all too have aught whereof too boast. For it is certain, that we shall evermore but rob God of his honour, if we confess not that we be beholden too him for all things, and that we have not any thing at all of our own.