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 let us come too the gracious gift that he speaketh of, which is the publishing of the incomprehensible riches of our Lord Jesus Christ, by the Gospel. It was a great matter that Saint Paul had bin received too be a sheep:¹ but God thinking not that too be enough, did put him in office of a Shepherd. The thing then which he meaneth here, is, that whereas he had bin a Woolf full of cruelty, he was not only changed too become a Lamb, too obey the voice of our Lord Jesus Christ, and too be quiet in his flock: but also exalted of God too a much greater and higher dignity, insomuch as he was ordained a Messenger of mans salvation, and a dealer forth of all the riches of our Lord Jesus Christ,² which nevertheless are incomprehensible: not that we ought not too seek them, but because the measure of them doth utterly exceed our capacity. Now then we see the effect of that which Saint Paul teacheth here: going forward still with the thing that he began with heretofore, namely that we must understand that he thrust not himself forth through foolish overboldnesse,³ too take upon him the office of an Apostle, but that he was called too it from on high, and set in that degree by God. And further let us assure our selves, that this doctrine was not put forth into the air at all adventure, but levelled at us by Gods holy Ghost, and by his wonderful forepurpose, as we shall see anon after. Therefore let us not think that Saint Paul hath spoken only for those whom he presently taught, & that in the the mean season th• same doctrine belongeth not too us: but let us rather understand how it was Gods will, that Saint Pauls labour should be too our behoof at this day, and that we should receive profit by it. That is it which we have too remember concerning the process of th• text.

Now let vs come too the gracious gift that he speaketh of, which is the publishing of the incomprehensible riches of our Lord Iesus Christ, by the Gospell. It was a great matter that Saint Paule had bin receyued too bee a sheepe:¹ but God thinking not that too bee ynough, did put him in office of a Shepherd. The thing then which he meaneth heere, is, that wheras he had bin a Woolf full of crueltie, he was not only chaunged too become a Lamb, too obey the voyce of our Lord Iesus Christ, and too bee quiet in his flocke: but also exalted of God too a much greater and hygher diginitie, insomuch as he was ordeyned a Messenger of mans saluation, and a dealer foorth of all the riches of our Lord Iesus Christ,