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…

Nevertheless we must not go about too pluck Jesus Christ out of his heavenly glory, too the intent too be the nearer unto him, as the unbelievers do, who will needs dwell ever still beneath, and transfigure God after their own liking. And we see what is done in the popedom. For there is no God among them, but a sort of puppets which they call Images and remembrances. And moreover, because they see well that those are but dead stocks and stones: they have made another God, whom they have shut up in a box, and too him they resort as too a living God. In deed if they had the supper of our Lord Jesus Christ according too his institution, in stead of the abominable Mass which they have brought in on their own head, Jesus Christ would be present among them: howbeit not as they ⟨p. 141⟩imagine. For in the Supper we do truly receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, too be fed of him, and of his own substance, so as he performeth the thing which he speaketh by his word, namely,¹ that he is our spiritual bread and drink, and hath wherewith too satisfy us too the full. Yea, but yet are the bread and the wine of the Supper, as pledges that our Lord Jesus giveth himself too us, to the end we should seek him above after a spiritual fashion. So then, Saint Paul showeth us, that if we will have Jesus Christ joined unto us, we must not be given too our own beastliness, but our harts and minds must be lift up aloft too seek him above, as hath bin declared already.² It is true, that he cometh down too us by his word, and by the power of his holy spirit: but that is too the end that we should mount up thither too him.

Neuerthelesse wee must not go about too plucke Iesus Christ out of his heauenly glorie, too the intent too bee the neerer vntoo him, as the vnbeeleeuers doo, who will needs dwell euer still beneathe, and transfigure God after theyr owne lyking. And wee see what is doone in the popedome. For there is no God among them, but a sort of puppets which they call Images and remēberances. And moreouer, bycause they see well that those are but dead stocks and stones: they haue made another God, whom they haue shet vp in a box, and too him they resort as too a liuing God. In deede if they had the supper of our Lord Iesus Christ according too his institution, in stead of the abhominable Masse which they haue brought in on their owne head, Iesus Christ woulde bee present among them: howbeeit not as they