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…

Saint Paul having spoken already of faith, addeth now, that we must also be grounded in Charity: as if he should say, we must not have only some fit (or pang of love) as many men have: but there must be a steadfastness and even holding on in it all our life long. For a thing may give a great blaze, and yet quail anon after. Behold, a huge building may be overthrown with one blast of wind, if it be not set upon a sure foundation. Also a man may set up a great tree: but if the root be cut asunder, what will come of it? It must needs fall down out of hand, or else if it have some hold a the one end for a time, it must needs wither at the heat of the Sun. Even so is it with us, when we have a great zeal which is not well rooted in our hearts: for it will be but as a mask or a gay show before men. That is the cause why Saint Paul exhorteth us purposely too be grounded in charity, too the intent too correct the vice of loving, by starts or fits (as they say) which is too common a thing. Nevertheless, it were a fondness too conclu•• therefore, that our salvation were grounded upon our good works. For here he treateth not of the cause of our salvation, but only how we ought too rule our life. Again, we know there is but one only foundation of the Church, as S. Paul sayeth in the third chapter of the second Epistle too Cori• thians, ⟨image 161⟩and as we have seen already in this selfsame Epistle, and specially as Jesus Christ himself declareth in the sixteenth chapter of Saint Matthew. And which is that foundation? It is Jesus Christ, and no man can lay any other than that which the Prophets and Apostles have laid, and we must hold our selves too it at this day, and even unto the worlds end. And yet may we not cease too be rooted in love by means of our Lord Jesus Christ. When men demand what is the cause of our salvation, by what mean we be brought into his favour, and how we may come unto him, and call upon him with full trust:¹ (we must answer) it is, because our Lord Jesus Christ is given us, and it is he in whom the fullness of the Godhead dwelleth. Now we be yet far of from such perfection: Howbeit, forasmuch as we be grounded upon our Lord Jesus Christ, we have a steadiness that continueth all our life.

Saint Paule hauing spoken alredie of fayth, addeth now, that wee must also bee grounded in Charitie: as if he should say, wee must not haue alonly some fit (or pang of loue) as manie men haue: but there must bee a stedfastnesse and euen holding on in it all our lyfe long. For a thing may giue a greate blaze, and yit quayle anon after. Behold, a huge building may be ouerthrowen with one blast of wynd, if it be not set vppon a sure foundaton. Also a man may set vp a greate tree: but if the roote bee cut asunder, what will come of it? It must needes fall downe out of hand, or else if it haue some hold a the one ende for a tyme, it must needes wither at the heate of the Sunne. Euen so is it with vs, when we haue a greate zeale which is not well rooted in our hartes: for it wilbee but as a maske or a gay showe before men. That is the cause why Saint Paule exhorteth vs purposely too bee grounded in charitie, too the intent too correct the vyce of louing, by startes or fits (as they say) which is too common a thing. Neuerthelesse, it were a fondnesse too conclu therefore, that our saluation were grounded vppon our good woorkes. For heere he treateth not of the cause of our saluation, but nly how wee ought too rule our lyfe. Agein, wee knowe there is but one onely foundation of the Church, as S. Paule sayeth in the third chapter of the second Epistle too Cori thians,