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…

But yet they builded without foundation. And therefore Saint Paul beginneth at Gods truth: As if he should say, we must not only link in one among our selves: but God must also go before us, and we must obey him, so as we must be gathered together under him, and he sit over us, and we must lever choose too be at defiance with the whole world, than too slip away from him. Thus ye see that the thing which we have too mark upon this text, is that God will not have us too be knit together without knowing how or why: but he will have us too agree too worship and serve him, and too put our whole trust in his infinite goodness, so as Jesus Christ be our head, and we all members of his body through the power of faith. And again, that when we once know how we have a father in heaven which hath adopted us too be his children, and that Jesus Christ hath vouchsafed too take our flesh and substance upon him, too the intent that we should be flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bone: the same should move us too love one another, too be careful each for others salvation, and too help one another according too the ability that God giveth us. According whereunto it is said in the Psalm,¹ that the friendship of brothers is a leevesome thing. And afterward the Prophet bringeth us too the ointment that was poured upon the Priests: as if he should say, that men having no more but even their mother wit, may perceive that there is not a more leevesome thing in the world, than too live in peace and amity. Howbeit therewithal he declareth the order of it, after the same manner that it is showed us here by S. Paul, and •ayth, that the said brotherhood must be con•crated and dedicated to the name of God. For the anointing of Aaron and his successors, was in such sort, as the ointment did shed ⟨p. 191⟩down upon the whole body, and upon the garment of them. Now therefore let us mark, that if we intend too link together well, we must draw unto God, and our linking must be allowed of him. Otherwise, we may well have fellowship together, but it shall be but a cursed fellowship, and the end of it can never be but utter confusion. Wherefore, that we may rule our life well, let the end that we begin at, be too cleave unto the truth. Right necessary is this warning for us now adays.

But yit they buylded without foundation. And therefore Saynt Paule beginneth at Gods truth: As if he should saye, wee must not only linke in one among our selues: but God must also go before vs, and wee must obey him, so as wee must bee gathered toogither vnder him, and he sit ouer vs, and wee must leuer chooze too bee at defyance with the whole world, than too slip away from him. Thus yee see that the thing which wee haue too marke vppon this text, is that God will not haue vs too bee knit toogither without knowing how or why: but he will haue vs too agree too woorship and serue him, and too put our whole trust in his infinite goodnes, so as Iesus Christ be our head, and we all members of his bodie through the power of fayth. And agein, that when wee once knowe how wee haue a father in heauen which hath adopted vs too bee his children, and that Iesus Christ hath voutsafed too take our flesh and substance vppon him, too the intent that wee should bee flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bone: the same should moue vs too loue one another, too bee carefull ech for others saluation, and too helpe one another according too the abilitie that God gyueth vs. According wheruntoo it is sayd in the Psalme,