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 then, too be short, we see that the Papists are destitute of the power of the Sacraments through their own misbelief, because they have robbed our Lord Jesus Christ of his power and virtue, and conveyed over his prerogative unto corruption and dead things. And therefore God hath so blinded them through his rightful vengeance, that they think themselves too have the Sacraments still, but yet notwithstanding without the word. As for example, in deed in Baptizing they mumble enough, and they make their conjurations and charms, and all in an unknown language, but yet is their speaking rather too the devil, than too the Godfathers and Godmothers that are there, too answer for the teaching of the child, and for the common instruction of the whole Church. Too be short, in Popish Baptism there is not the word, and therefore (as much as in them lieth) they have abolished Baptism. Yet notwithstanding, God hath not suffered the remembrance of his goodness too be utterly put away: like as in the time of the law, although the priests were Idolaters, and had preached false doctrine, and had imbrued the simple people with many errors & false opinions: yet notwithstanding, Circumcision was not changed in the times of Hezekiah and Joshuas, when things were redressed, and Gods service set in his right state. And why? Because it had bin ordained of God, and it was not lawful too have taken the sign of his covenant utterly away. But it behoved them too forsake all the incomes that had bin put too by Sata•s policy. Even so say I now, that in the Popedom there is not the word of God▪ as in respect of those that pretend too minister ⟨image 307⟩the Sacraments: and yet that we stick not too receive the thing that is witnessed unto us in Baptism, though we• were infected with much •••thinesse. But we must renounce the Cream that was ministered unto us, and all the other wicked trash, and retain the pure institution of our Lord Jesus Christ. And furthermore let us understand, that our Baptism as we received it then had bin unavailable, nay rather it had bin a cursed treachery, if we had gone no further than so. And why? For we had bin perverted, and we had falsified the ordinance of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now then, too bee short, wee see that the Papistes are destitute of the power of the Sacramentes through their owne misbeleef, bycause they haue robbed our Lord Iesus Christ of his power and vertew, and conuayed ouer his prerogatiue vntoo corruption and dead things. And therefore God hath so blynded them through his ryghtfull vengeance, that they thinke themselues too haue the Sacraments styll, but yit notwithstanding without the woord. As for example, in deede in Baptyzing they mumble ynough, and they make theyr coniurations and charmes, and all in an vnknowen language, but yit is their speaking rather too the diuel, than too the Godfathers and Godmoothers that are there, too answer for the teaching of the child, and for the common instruction of the whole Church. Too bee short, in Popish Baptim there is not the woord, and therefore (as much as in them lyeh) they haue abolished Baptim. Yit notwithstanding, God hath not suffered the rememberance of his goodnesse too bee vtterly put away: lyke as in the tyme of the lawe, although the priestes were Ioolaters, and had preached false doctrine, and had imbrewed the simple people with many errours & fals opiniōs: yit notwithstanding, Circumcision was not chaunged in the tymes of Ezechias and Iosas, when things were redressed, and Gods seruice set in his ryght state. And why? Bycause it had bin ordeyned of God, and it was not lawfull too haue taken the signe of his couenant vtterly away. But it behoued them too forsake all the incomes that had bin put too by Satas policie. Euen so say I now, that in the Popedome there is not the woord of God as in respect of those that pretend too minister