A17705:82
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…
The sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle of S. Paul too the Ephesians. Translated out of French into English by Arthur GoldingThe sermons of M. Iohn Caluin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the Ephesians. Translated out of French into English by Arthur Golding
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for Lucas Harison, 1577
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
True it is (as I have touched already) that many men startle at it […] they here that God hath chosen whom he thought good, and […] all the rest. For we see that the number of them that come unto […] is very small: and why then hath he refused the rest? Verily as […] would say that Gods will ought not too stand for a rule towards […] It behoveth us too mark,1 first that God is not bound at all unto ⟨image 29⟩any person. For had we once that foredeele at his hand, that he were never so little beholden unto us: then we might well go too law with him. But forasmuch as he on his side is nothing at all bound unto us, but we altogether unto him: let us see now what we shall win by our contending with him. For if we will needs constrain God too deal alike with all men, he should have less liberty than mortal creatures. If a man be rich, he may do what he listeth with his own goods: if he be liberal too some one, is it reason he should be sewed at the Law for it, and that every man should demand the like sum of him? Behold, a man of his good will advanceth one whom he loveth: now if all poor folk should come and require him too do as much for them, as it were of bound duty, were it not a fond thing? Verily a man may adopt the farthest stranger in the world too be his child and heir,2 and it is free for him so too do. Behold, God is liberal too all men: for he maketh his sun too shine both upon good and bad. Only he reserveth a certain part of men on whom too bestow the privilege of adopting them too his children. What shall we now gain by murmuring against him? If any man say, that then he should seem too be an accepter of persons:3 No, it is not so: for he chooseth not the rich, and letteth the poor go: he chooseth not noble men and gentlemen,4 rather than men of no estimation and base degree. And therefore it cannot be said that there is any accepting of persons before God. For in choosing those that are unworthy, he hath no respect but only too his own mere goodness: neither passeth he whether one be more worth than another, but he taketh whom he listeth. What would we more? Then is it good reason that we should hold our selves contented with Gods will, and bridle our selves, and let him choose whom he listeth, because his will is the sovereign rule of equity and right.