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…

And thereupon he addeth, that it is too fill all things. By this word Fill, he meaneth that Jesus Christ is not so locked up in any one place, but that we may feel him present, and that he dwelleth in us, ⟨image 190⟩and that he filleth all things. But surely that is not with his body as some have grossly imagined: but it is with his power, and with his spiritual benefits and gifts. Yet nevertheless Saint Pauls intent here is too betoken a presence of Christ, too the end that we may know that we have not lost any thing by his absenting of himself from the earth, so as he dwelleth here no more after a visible fashion. And why? For he ceaseth not for all that, too execute his power every where, and to fill all things: insomuch that we have all things of him which are requisite for our salvation. That is in effect the very meaning of S. Paul.

And theruppon he addeth, that it is too fyll all things. By this woord Fyll, he meaneth that Iesus Christ is not so locked vp in anie one place, but that wee may feele him present, and that he dwelleth in vs, ⟨image 190⟩and that he filleth all things. But surely that is not with his bodie as some haue grossely imagined: but it is with his power, and with his spirituall benefyts and gifts. Yit neuerthelesse Saint Paules intent heere is too betoken a presence of Christ, too the end that wee may knowe that we haue not lost anie thing by his absenting of himself from the earth, so as he dwelleth heere no more after a visible fashyon. And why? For he ceasseth not for all that, too execute his power euery where, and to fyll all things: insomuch that wee haue all things of him which are requisite for our saluation. That is in effect the verye meaning of S. Paule.

Wherefore let us here put in practise the exhortation that hath bin touched afore: which is, that we cannot be taken for Gods children, except we become like too him that hath the right of the first borne. Sith it is so: let us willingly suffer our selves too be abased, that God may exalt us: for by that mean did our Lord Jesus come too his glory. Again, let us apply all our senses to taste throughly what the mercy of God is, in that it hath pleased him that his son which was his image, should be so abased. Let us consider how great the love of our Lord Jesus Christ is, in that he vouchsafed to hide his divine essence for a time, and took not upon him as belonged unto him, but did as it were stoop down too the sight of the world. Sith we see this, let us consider first of all, how precious […] souls were too the son of God, seeing he vouchsafed too stoop so low for our sakes, and let us esteem of the Gospel whereby so great a benefit is communicated unto us, assuring our selves, that if Gods son had not come down unto us, there had bin no mean for us too have come unto God his father. For besides that we be plunged here in mire, and have nothings in us but utter frailty: it is certain, that we bear as good as a hell about us, because the devil is not without cause called the prince of this world.