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…

But yet notwithstanding we must come too the Science of Sciences: for that is it which will never fail. For when a man shall have trotted all the earth over, (about other Sciences,) what profyt• will come of it? It will be but vanity, as I said afore. Wherefore let us not seek any thing out of Jesus Christ, but let us rest wholly there, and not swerve any whit at all from him.

But yit notwithstanding wee must come too the Science of Sciences: for that is it which will neuer fayle. For when a man shall haue trotted all the earth ouer, (about other Sciences,) what profyt• wyll come of it? It will bee but vanitie, as I sayde afore. Wherefore let vs not seeke any thing out of Iesus Christ, but let vs rest wholly there, and not swarue any whit at all from him.

And here we see first of all, the thing that I have touched already heretofore: namely, that if we knew well what our Lord Jesus ⟨p. 144⟩Christ is, we would easily give over all other things, according as it is said in the third too the Philippians,¹ that S. Paul counted all his former high esteemed things as loss and dung, to the end he might hold himself too Jesus Christ, and that he went forward therein all the time of his life, yea and did as it were hold his arms stretched out too catch it, as he himself protesteth. Ye see then, that the thing which we have too mark here, is, that when we once know that Jesus Christ, and the benefits that he bringeth us, namely that we may resort too God in his name with full trust: we shall no more have our minds so vexed with unquietness, but we shall stand fast and steady in pure simplicity of the Gospel. Howbeit, for the better understanding hereof, let us see how men speak of our Lord Jesus Christ. In deed they will call him the son of God, and they will take him for their Redeemer: but in the mean while they will make a dole of his offices, and part them here and there as a pray. The holy Scripture calleth him the only Priest, because it belongeth only unto him too reconcile us unto God. And how many do now adays take that upon them? Even as many Monks, Friars, Mass Priests, and Hypocrites as be in the world: for they sell their prayers, as though Jesus Christ had resigned his place unto them. And under pretence thereof, they devour all the wealth of the world, and in the mean while Jesus Christ is thrust a great way of. Again, it is said, that by the one sacrifice which he offered once for all, he hath gotten us grace and salvation, yea even for ever, so that his death and passion appeaseth Gods wrath, because that thereby we have full righteousness. But yet for all this, the Mass is brought in, as though the sacrifice that Jesus Christ offered in his own person, were but a bare figure, and that the thing which the Papists have invented, were the only mean (as they say) too purchase favour at Gods hand. For the whoremaster goes thither too pay his ransom: so does the drunkard, the wicked swearer, the loose liver, the pillar and poller, the quarreller, the glutton, the eater up of his neighbour: