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…

Then should we be as folk forlorn and vanished away,¹ if Jesus Christ were not there as a mean to make us way. And that is it which S. Paul meaneth here, when he sayeth, that he prayeth too the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, too the end we might […], that he is not far from us, if we hold the way that he showeth us, that is too wit, if we make Jesus Christ our advocate, to bear word for us,² and speak as it were by his mouth. For he is entered into the Sanctuary of the heavens, too present himself there on our behalf, ⟨image 155⟩that it might he all one, as if he bare us upon his shoulders, and bo•h we and our prayers be accepted and allowed of God, and we be sure that they vanish not away into the air, but that God […] them as well as if he were hard by us, according to his promise made in the Psalm, which is, that he will be near at hand to all such as call upon him in truth.³ Had this bin well considered, the wretched world had not troubled it self so much, in seeking too He Saints and She Saints, too be their patrons and advocates. As for example, when the wretched Papists say, that they must have the Virgin Mary & S. Michael for their intercessors, and other Saints, whom they have devised of their own brain: ho (say they) we be not worthy too come in Gods presence. It is very true: but his unworthiness of ours ought also to make us too seek the remedy which God hath appointed for us, that is wit, too repair too our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the way that leadeth us too his father, according too this saying of his, I am the way,⁴ the truth and the life: and whatsoever ye ask of Go• my father in my name, shall be granted you. There our Lord Jesus promiseth, that whatsoever we ask of God his father in his name, shall be done unto us: and thereby he warranteth this doctrine. Therefore let us mark at a word, that inasmuch as our Lord Jesus offereth and putteth forth himself too be the way too lead us unto God his father, we must not go ranging up and down, but if we will needs seek any other way, we shall but stray, and never be at any certainty to come unto God. Furthermore, too the intent we may be contented with Jesus Christ alone: let us bear well in mind how he sayeth, that all our requests shall be heard, if they be grounded upon his […].