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…

Ye see then what we have too remember upon this speech, where Saint Paul sayeth, that the new man is created. Yea verily, and therein he showeth how we be fallen from our original, and from the state whereto we were advanced by Gods grace in the person of our forefather Adam. As if he said, that Adams fall is unto us as a spiritual death, whereby we be cut of and cast away from the number of Gods creatures. And not without cause doth God so oft utter this dreadful saying,¹ that he repenteth him that ever he made man. For therein he detesteth the corruption and sin that are in us. Not that God hath any humane passions in him: but too show us that he utterly mislyketh us, until his image be renewed in us.² It is said, that God looked upon all that he had made, and all was exceeding good and faultless. But when our father Adam was once fallen, and had made himself a stranger to the fountain of life: by & by he was stripped stark naked of all goodness. For being separated from God, what could he be but utterly forlorn, & past hope of recovery? Shall we find either life, or righteousness, or holiness, ⟨image 232⟩or soundness, or uprightness out of God? No: Ye see then that Adam was as it were cut of from the array of creatures: he was not worthy too be reckoned even among the Frogs and other vermin of the earth. Brag we as much as we list, that is our nature: we bear a greater curse of God, than is in all the Lice and Fleas, and in all the worms of the earth. That is the cause why S. Paul showeth us, that God cannot acknowledge us for his children, until his image be repaired in us: which thing is done by this new creation.³ For like as Adam drew us all down, and plunged us with himself in the gulf of death: so are we created new again by God in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. And for that cause doth he name himself the resurrection and life. For we must rise again in him, if we will live in deed. Which thing cannot be, except we have first bin dead, as was declared more at large this morning. Therefore we ought too have this reason always with us, that we ween not our selves too be righteous, or too make our life allowable before God, but be ever fully resolved and persuaded, that God will take nothing in good worth at our hands, but that which he knoweth too be his own.