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 Saint Paul addeth here the manner how God is so liberal unto us in Jesus Christ, and yet notwithstanding dealeth the gifts of his holy spirit too each man by certain measure, & not to every man alike, but as he him self thinketh good. He sayeth, that this was done by our Lord lesus Christs ascending up into Heaven. For then did he obtain sovereign dominion,¹ and the father gave him a name which is above all names, that all knees should how before him, as it is said in another place. In deed our Lord Jesus Christ received all fullness of grace at his coming into the world, accordingly as S. John sayeth in his first Chapter,² that all of us receive of him, to the end we may have our fill of the good things whereof we were hungry and empty before.³ That was the cause then why the spirit was given him without measure, as it is said in the same text. And the faithful, because they be members of the Church, have received thereof, and God hath given too every man his portion, and according too the measure of his only son. But as for him, God hath not given him his ⟨p. 167⟩spirit by measure. And why? For he is the head, and every man must take his liveliness from thence, and he therewithal have all power over us. Wherefore let us be contented that every of us hath his portion, that we may walk in fear before God: and therewithal let us understand that the perfectness is in Jesus Christ,⁴ because Gods spirit resteth in him, and both great and small must be fain too repair too him, with acknowledgement of their poverty, too obtain there the things that they want, and not be ashamed to receive Christs Alms, as they that are destitute of all good things. Furthermore, although our Lord Jesus Christ showed himself too be the only son of God while he was conversant in this world, & proved the same by his wonders, miracles, and gifts: Yet notwithstanding, when he ascended into heaven, he showed himself too be the very party in deed which had commission of God his father,⁵