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…

Now his saying is, Let glory be yielded to God in the Church: whereby he showeth, that it is not enough that every of us do privately acknowledge the benefits that God hath bestowed upon him: but that we must also join together in that mind. For if the body be well at ease, surely no member will be so addicted too it self, but that it will have regard of all the rest. Now then, when as God hath made his Church too prosper, so as the number thereof is multiplied, and it is also increased in spiritual gifts: not only they that have received those benefits, must enforce themselves too praise God: but also all the rest of the body, for so much as it becometh us too be knit together with the holy bond, whereof S. Paul will speak hereafter. That then is the cause why he speaketh purposely of the Church: as if he should say, that seeing God doth so utter his goodness, every man ought too be inflamed too glorify him, because that look whatsoever he doeth too our neighbours, we ought too take it as done too our selves. And verily he had an eye here too that which might hinder the praising of God with one true consent. For the Jews had always a certain disdain against the Gentiles, because they thought it was meet that themselves should keep still the birthright, and that they had wrong, if any of those were made equal with them, which had bin utterly shaken of afore. And likewise the Gentiles perceiving the Jews too be given too foolish bragging of the law, which had taken an end, might have despised them on the other side. Saint Paul therefore telleth them here, that inasmuch as God had called them as brethren too the heritaunce of salvation, it became them too agree in such wise in the praising of him, as his praise might sound everywhere.

Now his saying is, Let glory bee yeelded to God in the Church: wherby he sheweth, that it is not ynough that euery of vs doo priuately acknowledge the benefites that God hath bestowed vppon him: but that wee must also ioyne toogither in that mynd. For if the body bee well at ease, surely no member will bee so addicted too it selfe, but that it will haue regard of all the rest. Now then, when as God hath made his Church too prosper, so as the number thereof is multiplyed, and it is also increaced in spirituall giftes: not onely they that haue receyued those benefites, must inforce themselues too praise God: but also all the rest of the body, for so much as it becommeth vs too bee knit togither with the holy bond, whereof S. Paule will speake heereafter. That then is the cause why he speaketh purposely of the Church: as if he should say, that seeyng God dooth so vtter his goodnesse, euery man ought too bee inflamed too glorify him, bycause that looke whatsoeuer he dooeth too our neyghbours, wee ought too take it as doone too our selues. And verily he had an eye heere too that which myght hinder the praysing of God with one trew consent. For the Iewes had alwayes a certeine disdeyne ageinst the Gentiles, bycause they thought it was meete that themselues should keepe stil the birthryght, and that they had wrong, if any of those were made equall with them, which had bin vtterly shaken of afore. And likewyse the Gentyles perceyuing the Iewes too bee giuen too foolish bragging of the lawe, which had taken an end, myght haue despyzed them on the other syde. Saint Paule therefore telleth them here, that inasmuch as God had called them as brethren too the heritaunce of saluation, it became them too agree in such wise in the praysing of him, as his prayse myght sound euerywhere.