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…

Now hereupon Saint Paul inferreth, that Therefore our Lord Jesus Christ, in all the doctrine of the Gospel, speaketh too them that are fallen asleep in their sins, & to such as are as good as dead, too the intent they should wake and rise up: and so shall we bee enlightened by him. Now we have here too remember first of all, that Jesus Christ doth then raise us from the dead, when he calleth us too the faith, and bringeth us into the hope of salvation. And that is too the intent we should perceive our state the better. For we see how men sooth and glorify themselves. Although there be nothing in them but utter confusion: yet notwithstanding they will needs put out their hor•es like Snails too vaunt themselves, as it were in despite of God and nature. Now the Scripture sayeth we be dead. We may well have some resemblance of life, before we be converted too the faith of Jesus Christ: Howbeit, that ⟨image 279⟩life is but death before God. And that is the cause why it is said in Saint John,¹ The hour is come that all they which hear the voice of the Son of man, shall live though they be dead, and shall pass from death too life. Jesus Christ speaks not there of the visible death, nor of the resurrection which we hope for at the latter day. But he showeth us how we have already a preparative of the second rising again, when God reneweth us, and giveth us a spiritual life. For we can do nothing but evil, as hath bin declared heretofore. And Saint Paul also useth the same phrase of speech, namely that we be dead too Godward. Following the same matter here, he showeth us that the whole drift of the Gospel is, that we should rise from the dead. For as long as we be strangers too God, who is the wellspring of life: where are we but in such a dungeon, as it had bin better for us never too have bin borne? But we must wake: for one part of our death is this blockishness wherein we be, according as I declared heretofore, that we be so corrupted afore hand even from our mothers womb, as we can find no savour in well doing, and that we be stark blinded in our wicked lusts, & the devil driveth us and thrusteth us forward in such wise, that as long as God giveth us the bridle, we can do nothing but grub down too the bottom of hell, too sink our selves the deeper in it.

Now heeruppon Saint Paule inferreth, that Therfore our Lord Iesus Christ, in all the doctrine of the Gospell, speaketh too them that are falne aslepe in their sinnes, & to such as are as good as dead, too the intent they should vvake and ryze vp: and so shall wee beee inlyghtened by him. Now wee haue heere too remember first of all, that Iesus Christ dooth then rayse vs from the deade, when he calleth vs too the fayth, and bringeth vs intoo the hope of saluation. And that is too the intent wee should perceyue our state the better. For wee see how men sooth and glorifye themselues. Although there bee nothing in them but vtter confuzion: yit notwithstanding they will needes put out their hores lyke Suayles too vaunt themselues, as it were in despyte of God and nature. Now the Scripture sayeth wee bee dead. Wee may well haue some resemblance of lyfe, before wee bee conuerted too the fayth of Iesus Christ: Howbeit, that