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 is it not enough for us to say, we believe in Jesus Christ, and that we take him for our redeemer: but we must also know to wha• purpose he is sent us of God his father, and what benefits he hath brought us. When we once know all this: then shall we be filled with him. We shall not need to go bibbling here and there, nor to lap or lick up mud and stinking water one where or other, for want of meate ad drink that is fit for us. Our Lord Jesus Christ hath told us, that we shall find both meat and drink in him, so as we may throughly satisfy our selves both with meat and drink that is good & wholesome for the nourishment of our souls. So much the more therefore behoveth it us to go thither: & when we read the holy scripture, let the mark that we look at, be always too know what the grace of God is which he hath showed us in the person of his only son: and when we once know it, we shall have profited very well in Gods […], & may well cast away all other things as filth & poison. In deed […] doctrines will have some savour at the first sight, for we see […] ⟨p. 145⟩do always follow that which Saint Paul speaks in the second too the Colossians, that is to wit, that because their dreams and dotages have some show of wisdom,¹ therefore they give themselves unto them. But we must understand that there is no true food, but that which God giveth us, and that it is his will to provide us of all things which he knoweth too be needful for us. Will we then be filled without him? Think we, that if we seek too the Virgin Mary, and call her the mother of grace (after the manner of the papists, which do commonly give her that title): we shall there find the things that we want: Surely it is all one as if we would go seek food, & snatch here a bit & there a bit by morsels & gobbets. But Jesus Christ saith, Come unto me, & ye shall find all that you have need of: according whereunto, it is said, that all the treasures of wisdom & knowledge are enclosed in him.² Then if we once know the love that God his father hath showed us in his person: we shall have the fullness of all wisdom, we shall no more need too trot here and there, we shall no more need too go up nor down, nor far, nor wide: for we shall have wholly whatsoever is good and requisite for our welfare.