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…

Furthermore let us mark also, that Saint Paul speaketh of the word that is full of instruction and edifieth our faith. For the pronouncing of some words is not enough: as if a man should say, I Baptize thee in the name of the father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghost: and think that the virtue and power of Baptism were enclosed in those words: it were an abuse, and truly it could not serve us but for a charm and enchantment. But the word is the promise whereby our Lord Jesus Christ hath told us, that he is verily given us too be our righteousness, too the end that all our sins should be covered and buried in his obedience, and all our spots washed away by his cleanness. Therefore when we once have this promise, and know what things are brought us by the only Son of God, then is the water matched with the word. And we ought so much the more too note this,¹ because we see how Saint Paul sayeth in another place too Timothy, that not even our meat and drink can be sanctified, but by the word. True it is that bread, wine, water, and all other things are pure in respect of their creation by God: howbeit we cannot use them without turning them too uncleanness, and without committing of felony against God, but by his word (saith he) whereby all things are made holy unto us. And how is that? By teaching us that God showeth himself too be our father, in having ⟨p. 288⟩a care of us too maintain us and feed us: and also by telling us that all these things are given us, too the intent that by using his liberality, first we should be provoked too serve and honour him, and too be ravished in love of him: and secondly be confirmed in the hope of the heritage that is promised us. For seeing he makes us feel his goodness aforehand in this world: it is certain that when we come too the glory whereunto he calleth us, we shall then have our fill of the good things, whereof there is but some little taste showed us as yet. Ye see then that all the benefits which we receive for the body, are made holy by the word. And what shall be done then in things concerning the everlasting salvation of our souls? Is it not much more reason that they should be sanctified by the same word?

Furthermore let vs marke also, that Saint Paule speaketh of the woord that is full of instruction and edifyeth our fayth. For the pron•uncing of some woordes is not ynough: as if a man should say, I Baptize thee in the name of the father, and of the sonne, and of the holy Ghost: and thinke that the vertue and power of Baptim were inclozed in those woordes: it were an abuse, and truly it could not serue vs but for a charme and inchauntment. But the woord is the promise wherby our Lord Iesus Christ hath told vs, that he is verily giuen vs too bee our ryghtuousnesse, too the end that all our sinnes should bee couered and buried in his obedience, and all our spottes washt away by his cleannesse. Therefore when wee once haue this promisse, and knowe what things are brought vs by the only sonne of God, then is the water matched with the woord. And wee ought so much the more too note this,