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…

For behold, the thing that we bring with us by inheritance from our mothers womb, is cursedness, and to be as enemies to God, and too have nothing but stark malice and rebelliousness in us, and too be blind wretches, and (at a word) too be given too all evil, so as Satan reigneth over us, and we be his bond slaves, and are held down under the tyranny of sin. Now then seeing that God hath pitied us, in respect that we were so miserable creatures: Needs must it be, that he uttered the great riches of his goodness in that behalf, and meet it is that he should be glorified for the same. And (as I have said already) we ought too be the better touched therewith, that like as he hath adopted us for his children, so we may show our selves willing too take him for our father. But howsoever we fare, although he have reformed his image in us, yet must he be fain too utter the riches of his goodness, and too increase his gifts in us, and too make us too go on still with our course. And it standeth us so much the more on hand to bear this doctrine in mind, because we see the world hath bin beguiled with these toys and opinions, that every man might well put forth himself through his own freewill, or at leastwise prepare himself too come unto God. And again, that Gods ad•ing of grace upon grace, is, because men have used well the grace that he had given and bestowed upon them before. Now as touching the first point, how is it possible that we should bring aught of our selves too win Gods favour withal? seeing we be like poor dead men, and as •otten ⟨p. 135⟩carcasses, what preparation can we make too purchase favour at Gods ha••: Must not men need as be worse than be witched, when they conceive such •••yes? Wherefore let us learn too father the beginning, continuance, and end of our salvation upon God, and too shim all those devilish illusions, (which seem to maintain) that God in adding of grace unto grace, hath a regard how every of us hath deserved it. For contrariwise S. Paul telleth us, that in this care we must have nothing before our eyes, but Gods goodness in showing himself so liberal towards us, that he never ceaseth too do us good. He is not like mortal men, which will say, I have done thee good enough already, content thy self:

For behold, the thing that we bring with vs by inheritaunce from our mothers womb, is cursednesse, and to be as enemies to God, and too haue nothing but starke malice and rebelliousnesse in us, and too be blynd wretches, and (at a word) too bee giuen too all euill, so as Satan reigneth ouer vs, and wee bee his bond slaues, and are hild downe vnder the tyranny of sinne. Now then seeing that God hath pitied vs, in respect that we were so miserable creatures: Needes must it be, that he vttered the great riches of his goodnesse in that behalfe, and meete it is that he should bee glorified for the same. And (as I haue sayd already) wee ought too be the better touched therwith, that like as he hath adopted vs for his children, so wee may shewe our selues willing too take him for our father. But howsoeuer wee fare, although he haue reformed his image in vs, yit must he bee fayne too vtter the riches of his goodnesse, and too increace his gifts in vs, and too make vs too go on still with our course. And it standeth vs so much the more on hand to beare this doctrine in mind, bycause wee see the worlde hath bin beguiled with these toyes and opinions, that euery man myght well put foorth himselfe through his owne freewill, or at leastwyse prepare himselfe too come vntoo God. And agein, that Gods ading of grace vppon grace, is, bycause men haue vsed well the grace that he had giuen and bestowed vppon them before. Now as touching the first poynt, how is it possible that wee should bring aught of our selues too win Gods fauour withall? seeyng wee bee lyke poore dead men, and as otten