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 there are yet two reasons mo, which show that this doctrine is most needful too be preached, and that we reap so great profit by it, as it had bin much better that we had never bin borne, than too be ignorant of the thing that S. Paul showeth here. For there are two things whereat we must chiefly aim, and whereunto it behoveth us too apply all our wits and endeavours, and they be the very sum of all the things which God teacheth us by the holy scripture. The one is the magnifying of God as he deserveth, and the other is the assuredness of our salvation,¹ that we may call upon him as our father with full liberty. If we have not these two things, woe worth us, for there is neither faith nor religion in us. Well may we talk of God, but it shall be but a leasing. As touching the first point, I have told you already that Gods grace is not sufficiently known but by se•ting Gods election as it were before our eyes. For put the case that God draw all men alike, and that such as intend too obtain salvation, must come of their own free will and selfmoving: if it be so, then is it certain that we deserve too be received at Gods hand, and that he should handle every man according too his worthiness. But wherein shall Gods goodness be magnified? Even in this, that he preventeth us of his own mere free good will, and loveth us nevertheless without finding any thing either in us or in our works why he should love us. If this be true, then must there needs be election, so as God must take the one sort because he thinketh it good so to do, & leave the other. Thus ye see it is a most assured point, that Gods glory doth not appear & shine forth as were requisite, except it be known that he sheddeth forth his goodness and love where it pleaseth him.

But there are yit twoo reasons mo, which shewe that this doctrine is most needefull too bee preached, and that wee reape so great profit by it, as it had bin much better that wee had neuer bin borne, than too bee ignorant of the thing that S. Paule sheweth heere. For there are twoo thinges wherat wee must chiefly ame, and whereuntoo it behoueth vs too apply all our wittes and indeuers, and they bee the very summe of all the thinges which God teacheth vs by the holy scripture. The one is the magnifying of God as he deserueth, and the other is the assurednesse of our saluation,¹ that wee may call vppon him as our father with full libertie. If wee haue not these twoo thinges, wo woorth vs, for there is nother fayth nor religion in vs. Well may wee talke of God, but it shalbee but a leazing. As touching the first poynt, I haue tolde you alreadie that Gods grace is not sufficiently knowen but by seting Gods election as it were before our eyes. For put the cace that God drawe all men alyke, and that such as intend too obteyne saluation, must come of their owne free will and selfmouing: if it be so, then is it certeine that wee deserue too bee receyued at Gods hand, and that he should handle euery man according too his worthinesse. But wherin shall Gods goodnesse bee magnifyed? Euen in this, that he preuenteth vs of his owne mere free good wil, and loueth vs neuerthelesse without fynding any thing eyther in vs or in our woorkes why he should loue vs. If this bee trew, then must there needes bee election, so as God must take the one sort bycause he thinketh it good so to doo, & leaue the other. Thus ye see it is a most assured point, that Gods glory doth not appeere & shyne foorth as were requisite, except it be knowen that he sheddeth foorth his goodnesse and loue where it pleaseth him.