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…

Howbeit, (as I said afore) it is unpossible for us too be grounded in any certainty of faith too take God for our father, until we know that we be made one in our Lord Jesus Christ, and that forasmuch as we be members of his body, we be also partakers of the benefits that he hath purchased, so as his death and passion are our righteousness, his holiness our cleansing from all our own defilements, and the sacrifice which he hath offered doth set us clear, and draw us out of the damnation wherein we were, and finally hath set us free from the bondage of sin, and purchased us full righteousness. Forasmuch as we have all these things in our Lord Jesus Christ, therefore ought we also too give thanks unto God by his means. And that is the cause why the Papists cannot frame so much as one request, that God alloweth. Yea and in very deed, they be as good as dumb. For though a man may hear Hymns and Canticles enow (as they term them) among them: yet cannot God be praised at their hands. For although they wind up all things with this saying, By our Lord Jesus Christ: yet do they not believe that God is merciful too them, neither are they worthy of it, because they disclaim our Lord Jesus Christ, and do so entangle him with patrons and advocates of their own forging, as a man cannot discern him from others, insomuch that they coop him up in a corner, or else set him behind in the rearward, while in the mean time there is hunting after the merits and intercessions of Saints, and that is their trust, that is the mother of their devilish presumption, namely that they can make amends (for their sins) and redeem themselves. But as for us, when as it is told us that we must thank God in all things: it is too the end that we should always abase our selves. And for that cause did I say, that faith openeth us the way as well too pray unto God, as also too give him thanks for the benefits that we have received at his hand.

Howbeeit, (as I sayd afore) it is vnpossible for vs too bee grounded in any certeintie of fayth too take God for our father, vntyll wee knowe that wee bee made one in our Lord Iesus Christ, and that forasmuch as wee bee members of his bodie, we bee also parttakers of the benefytes that he hathe purchaced, so as his death and passion are our ryghtuousnesse, his holinesse our clenzing from all our own defylementes, and the sacrifyze which he hath offered dooth set vs cleere, and drawe vs out of the damnation wherin wee were, and finally hath set vs free from the bondage of sin, and purchaced vs full ryghtuousnesse. Forasmuch as wee haue all these things in our Lord Iesus Christ, therefore ought wee also too geue thankes vntoo God by his meanes. And that is the cause why the Papistes cannot frame so much as one request, that God alloweth. Yea and in very deede, they bee as good as dumb. For though a man may heare Hymnes and Canticles ynow (as they terme them) among them: yit cannot God bee praysed at their handes. For although they wynd vp all things with this saying, By our Lord Iesus Christ: yit doo they not beleeue that God is mercifull too them, nother are they woorthie of it, bycause they disclayme our Lord Iesus Christ, and doo so intangle him with patrons and aduocates of their owne forging, as a man cannot discerne him from others, insomuch that they coope him vp in a corner, or else set him behynd in the reerward, whyle in the meane tyme there is hunting after the merites and intercessions of Saintes, and that is their trust, that is the moother of their diuelish presumpion, namely that they can make amendes (for their sinnes) and redeeme themselues. But as for vs, when as it is told vs that wee must thanke God in all things: it is too the end that wee should alwayes abace our selues. And for that cause did I say, that fayth openeth vs the way as wel too pray vntoo God, as also too giue him thankes for the benefites that wee haue receyued at his hand.