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 he sayeth, according too the richness of his glory. Wherefore is it, that he magnifieth the riches of Gods goodness so much, but to beat down all the fond opinions wherewith men besot them selves, in weening too bring, I wot not what, of their own, and by that mean too make themselves hail-fellow with God? Therefore it behoveth us to bear this thing well in mind. For S. Paul speaks too such as had showed great strength already: but yet was it meet that God should always have the praise of it. They were in great forwardness, and had fought already for the Gospel: and yet Saint Paul wisheth, that they might be strengthened. Herein we see that we be so far unable too begin too do good, that even when God hath set us in the way, when he hath reached us his hand, yea and when he hath continued his grace in us from day too day:¹ Yet if he do but turn away his hand one minute, we be quite quailed. And so we be warned (as we have seen afore) that as God is the beginner of our salvation, so is he the worker of it throughout, and there is nostedfa••nesse in us, further forth than we be uphold by him, and by ⟨image 153⟩his holy spirit. And therefore we ought too be provoked too pray daily all the time of our life. For they that forget themselves, and fall asleep, shall soon f•ele themselves bereft of Gods grace. And why? They be not worthy of it, because they seek it not with continual care. Therefore too waken us throughly both from our slothfulness and from our recklessness, we must bear in mind, that seeing God hath called us into his Church, and touched us to the quick, to receive his Gospel with true obedience: the same ought to strengthen us so much the more too the end. Let that serve for one point. Again, let us understand, that God must needs show the riches of his glory, when he increaseth so his holy spirit in us by degrees. For must there not needs be an infinite treasure of his goodness, when he draweth us so to him at the first sight? In what plight we are when God chooseth us and taketh us too him? He draweth us not only out of a stinking puddle, but out of the bottom of hell.

Now he sayeth, acording too the richenesse of his glory. Wherfore is it, that he magnifieth the riches of Gods goodnesse so much, but to beate downe all the fond opinions wherwith men besotte them selues, in weening too bring, I wote not what, of their owne, and by that meane too make themselues haylefellowe with God? Therfore it behoueth vs to beare this thing wel in mind. For S. Paul speakes too such as had shewed great strength already: but yit was it meete that God should alwayes haue the prayse of it. They were in great forwardnesse, and had fought already for the Gospell: and yit Saint Paule wisheth, that they might bee strengthened. Heerein wee see that wee bee so farre vnable too begin too doo good, that euen when God hath set vs in the way, when he hath reached vs his hand, yea and when he hath continud his grace in vs from day too day: