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…

Thirdly, we must consider in Jesus Christ, the infinite grace that is brought us, and imparted too us by his means. And Saint Paul in saying here the Love, sendeth us too the wellspring. For though we knew all Gods secretes, and were privy too the rest of his will: what were it, till we were persuaded of the love that he beareth us? For we see that when any man speaks of God too the unbelievers, it doth so grieve them, that they wot not where too become, and it is but a matter of heaviness too them, because they conceive nothing but rigour in him. But when his grace and fatherly goodness is uttered unto us, as he hath showed it in our Lord Jesus Christ: then come we boldly unto him, and we be no more afraid of his seat, but have familiar access to it: and therein he doth us an inestimable good turn, such a one as surmounteth all that ever we can wish in this world, according as S. Paul setteth us it down here. And so ye see what this saying, the Love of God, importeth. And he sayeth purposely, in Jesus Christ, because that without him we could not be beloved of God. For let Jesus Christ be (as ye would say) let alone, and let us put the case that we thought upon God, and that we did apply all our wits thereabouts, and therewithal that we bethought us of our selves also: what were all this? We shall find such an incomprehensible majesty in God, as shall swallow us up like a deep gulf. Again, his Justice is so perfect, as it will be much less possible for us to stand before it, than for Snow to abide against the Sun. Now when we come too our selves, we must needs see a sea of all misery before us, that is to wit, that our senses are blind, that we be utterly unfurnished of all virtue, that we be given too all evil, that we be held down under the thraldom of sin, and that nothing in us (no not even of the excellentest things that we think our selves too have) which is not loathsome before God. Therefore when we once know these two things, that is too wit, when we have once conceived a terror of Gods majesty, and be drowned in despair at the sight of our selves, then let us afterward go seek all the means ⟨p. 146⟩that can be, and let us call the Angels too help, and they will come never the nearer us for all that. Let us take the He saints and She saints, and by what title can they belong too us?

Thirdly, we must consider in Iesus Christ, the infinit grace that is brought vs, and imparted too vs by his meanes. And Saint Paule in saying heere the Loue, sendeth vs too the wellspring. For though wee knew all Gods secretes, and were priuie too the rest of his will: what were it, till we were perswaded of the loue that he beareth vs? For wee see that when any man speakes of God too the vnbeleeuers, it dooth so greeue them, that they wote not where too become, and it is but a matter of heauinesse too them, bycause they conceyue nothing but rigour in him. But when his grace and fatherly goodnesse is vttered vntoo vs, as he hath shewed it in our Lord Iesus Christ: then come we boldly vntoo him, and wee bee no more afrayd of his seate, but haue familiar accesse to it: and therin he dooth vs an inestimable good turne, such a one as surmounteth all that euer wee can wish in this world, according as S. Paule setteth vs it downe heere. And so yee see what this saying, the Loue of God, importeth. And he sayeth purposely, in Iesus Christ, bycause that without him wee could not bee beloued of God. For let Iesus Christ bee (as yee would say) let alone, and let vs put the cace that wee thought vppon God, and that wee did apply all our wits theraboutes, and therwithall that wee bethought vs of our selues also: what were all this? Wee shall fynd such an incomprehensible maiestie in God, as shall swallowe vs vp lyke a deepe gulf. Agein, his Iustice is so perfect, as it wilbee much lesse possible for vs to stand before it, than for Snowe to abyde ageinst the Sunne. Now when wee come too our selues, wee must needes see a sea of all miserie before vs, that is to wit, that our senses are blynd, that wee bee vtterly vnfurnished of all vertew, that wee bee giuen too all euill, that wee bee hild downe vnder the thraldome of sin, and that nothing in vs (no not euen of the excellentest thinges that wee thinke our selues too haue) which is not lothsome before God. Therfore when we once know these twoo things, that is too wit, when we haue once conceyued a terrour of Gods maiestie, and bee drowned in despayre at the syght of our selues, then let vs afterward go seeke al the meanes