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…

Paul leadeth us higher here, and will have us too glorify God above all things, for because he thinks it not enough too have set us in the world, and too cherish us there, and too have provided all things needful for the passing of this transitory life: but also hath chosen us too be heirs of his kingdom, and of the heavenly life. Then are we double bound unto God, and that much more straitly than the ignorant and unbelieving wretches are. For although they be sufficiently bond already: yet notwithstanding the good which he hath done us in Jesus Christ, is without all comparison more excellent and noble, because he hath adopted us too be his children. Truly inasmuch as we be men, we be of the number of his creatures which he hath fashioned after his own image: but what for that: This image is defaced in us by sin, and by the corruption wherewith we be attainted by Adams disobedience. And now what other heritage have we, than of his wrath and of endless death? Too be short, we be not worthy too be reckoned in the number of brute beasts, if we abide in the state which we have of nature. Now then seeing that God maketh us members of his only son, & setteth us in the array of the Angels, & prepareth us too become partakers of his own nature and glory (as sayeth S. Peter in his first Epistle:)¹ ought not we too perceive there so high and noble a grace, as should ravish us wholly in love with it? Thus ye see that of the things which S. Paul meant too say in this text, the first is, that we be here exhorted too apply our whole endeavour too the praising of God, verily because we be too cold & slothful in that behalf, if we be not driven and enforced thereunto. Besides this, S. Paul had one other respect more: which was, too feed us in such wise with the grace that we have by the Gospel, as we may no more covet this thing & that thing after our ordinary manor. We see how fickle we be of nature, & when God is so good unto us, as too set his word before us: we will needs have some other things beside, and nothing can content us. And what is the cause of it: It is for that we be dull, & never conceived nor understood what God showeth us by his word.²

Paule leadeth vs hygher heere, and will haue vs too glorifye God aboue all things, for bycause he thinkes it not ynough too haue set vs in the worlde, and too cherish vs there, and too haue prouided all things needfull for the passing of this transitorie lyfe: but also hath chozen vs too bee heires of his kingdome, and of the heauenly lyfe. Then are wee dubble bound vntoo God, and that much more streytly than the ignorant and vnbeleeuing wretches are. For although they bee sufficiently bonnd alredye: yit notwithstanding the good which he hath doone vs in Iesus Christ, is without all comparison more excellent and noble, bycause he hath adopted vs too bee his children. Truely inasmuch as wee bee men, wee bee of the nomber of his creatures which he hath fashioned after his owne image: but what for that: This image is defaced in vs by sin, and by the corruption wherwith we bee atteinted by Adams disobediēce. And now what other heritage haue wee, than of his wrath and of endlesse death? Too bee shorte, wee bee not woorthy too bee reckened in the number of brute beasts, if wee abide in the state which wee haue of nature. Now then seyng that God maketh vs members of his onely sonne, & setteth vs in the aray of the Angels, & prepareth vs too become parttakers of his owne nature and glory (as sayeth S. Peter in his first Epistle:)