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 it standeth us on hand too mark well how he sayeth, that it ⟨p. 165⟩is in Jesus Christ, because it is he in whom we be linked together. For (as hath bin showed heretofore) what is our spiritual kindred? Although it spring of God, as of the fountain of all goodness: yet could it not flow down unto us, except Jesus Christ were among us,¹ and that we were gathered together by his mean. Accordingly also as we have seen in the first Chapter, how it is his office too gather all things together (both in heaven and earth,) that were scattered asunder before. Then let us mark, that forasmuch as God hath not given men such perfection, that every one of us can live of himself alone, we must cling together in peace and concord: For it is certain that God could well have made us perfect out of hand, so as nothing should have wanted in us: and that he is no niggard in enriching us with his goods, so far forth as he knoweth too be for our behoof. Seeing then that there is infirmity in us, why doth not God knit us too him out of hand? Why holdeth he us still in such weakness? Why giveth he us not an Angelical power and perfection? As I said afore, he will have us to learn too live warily and awfully, knowing that it standeth us on hand to have him go through with the thing that he hath begun. And therewithal we must also live meekly & gently one with another, and not be so proud as to despise other men, and too draw aloof from them, but rather consider that they may help us, and that there is not so base a person in Gods Church, which hath not received some thing wherewith he may be able to do seruis too his neighbours. That then is the thing that we have seen already. Again, if we think that a poor silly soul hath no learning too teach us, and that we can receive nothing at his hand: let us beware that we do not prejudice the grace of God. For it is certain, that look how many have any taste and feeling of the Gospel, we have record, that God dwelleth in them by his holy spirit. For faith is the singular gift of God:² and it is a sure token that God dwelleth in every man, where we see any feeling and knowledge of the Gospel.

Now it standeth vs on hand too marke well how he sayeth, that it ⟨p. 165⟩