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…

Here S. Paul meant shortly to blame the unthankfulness of such as are not contented with the having of Jesus Christ, but think that he should have some helps added too him. Therefore he sayeth, what desire we more than too be knit unto God? Is not our full happiness there?¹ Now it is so, that by believing in Jesus Christ, we hau• confidence that we may •reace unto God: the access is given […] And whereas trust or confidence is not enough, we have also boldness ⟨p. 129⟩too come unto him with our heads upright, not as presuming any whit of our selves, nor yet too come thither recklessly, but we must always practise this saying of the Psalm,² that although we rest upon Gods goodness, yet must we evermore worship him with fear. Notwithstanding, we may always come boldly unto Gods throne, assuring our selves that his Majesty shall no more be terrible to us, seeing he showeth himself a father towards us in the person of his only son. We see then how S. Pauls meaning is, too hold us fast too Jesus Christ. And therein we see also what our frowardness is. For it is certain, that the care and zeal which S. Paul had too make us cleave fast too the son of God, came of the wisdom of the holy Ghost, who knew our frailty and unsteadfastness. Had we (as ye would say) but one drop of settled wit, it were enough too do us too understand, that by the Gospel we may possess Gods son, who giveth himself unto us, and that having him, we have all that ever we can wish.³ It were enough too have spoken this in one word, as S. Paul hath showed already: but we see how he doubleth and confirmeth his saying, as though it were a hard thing too be believed. And of a truth, it is very hard, because we be too much given too distrust and unbelief. Again, too believe for one day, is not all that we have too do: it is required that we should hold on still, which is a very rare thing too be found in this world, because we be always risking. By means whereof, men do as it were wilfully bereave themselves of the thing that was given them. Furthermore, forasmuch as all the world is at the point, and we cannot be won or persuaded but with great pain, too come too our Lord Jesus Christ, and too rest upon him, let us use the remedy that Saint Paul setteth us down here.