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…

For when a bargain is made, although there be no present payment seen, yet if an earnest penny be given, the bargain is concluded, and the chapman cannot say afterward, tush, I repent me of my bargain, and I will•forsake it: neither can the other say, I find my self deceived and overseen, and therefore I will rather keep my wares still: but each of them is bound, the one too make the money, and the other too deliver his wares. Even so is it said, that Gods spirit is the earnest penny of the life of our souls. And why? For ⟨p. 230⟩(as I said) God bindeth himself unto us in respect of our infirmity, whereto we be too much inclined. In deed it is not for that he oweth us any thing: but we have so much the more cause too magnify his goodness, in that he is so free hearted as to bind himself willingly unto us, whereas he oweth us not any thing, and vouchsafeth too assure us of it, because he seeth us so feeble and weak. Like as when he sweareth: it is not for that he on his own part needeth too add any thing too his single word: for he himself is the truth, and the thing that cometh of him must not be doubted of. It might seem therefore that the oath which he maketh is superfluous, and that he doth but abuse his own name. (No:) but he doeth it because he seeth us weak, and that we have need too be held up many ways, and specially because he seeth us given too misbelief, and therefore that he must be fain too remedy it. So then, whensoever God sweareth, therein he stoopeth unto us for pity of our wretchedness: and the sealing and ratifying of his promises in us by his holy spirit, is even because it is impossible that we of our selves should believe him, and we could not be sure of the things that he promiseth us, to call upon him, and too overcome all the temptations of the world, unless he used that mean. And therefore we have so much the more need too bear this text in mind, where S. Paul saith, that the holy Ghost sealeth in our hearts.

For when a bargain is made, although there bee no present payment seene, yit if an earnest penny bee giuen, the bargayne is concluded, and the chapman cannot say afterward, tush, I repent mee of my bargayne, and I will•forsake it: nother can the other say, I fynde my selfe deceyued and ouerseene, and therfore I will rather keepe my wares styll: but eche of them is bound, the one too make the money, and the other too deliuer his wares. Euen so is it sayd, that Gods spirit is the earnest penny of the lyfe of our soules. And why? For