Sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the.X.Commandments of the Law, given of GodSermons of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the.X.Commandementes of the Lawe, geuen of God

And albeit there be always many blots and stains in us: yea, much stinking corruption, except it should be washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ: yet he always accepteth us by the means thereof, and no otherwise. So, let us learn to boast our selves, and glorify in the mere and only mercy of God, and not vaunt us of any merits. And in the mean time let us not cease to be incited and stirred up with so much greater zeal to serve him, when we see that he will allure and win us unto him self by such mildness and gentleness. Yea Moses showeth, that whatsoever God promiseth unto his people, when they shall observe his law, proceedeth from this fountain, rather than from any obligation. And this is that which he saith, As God hath promised to thy fathers: as if he said, Beloved, serve God, and he shall be a good master unto you. And think not that you have lost your time & labour when you shall have observed his law: for you shall have a large reward, which is made ready for you. But withal consider ye whence it proceedeth: Behold the fountain (saith he:) that is, that before the were borne and brought into this world, God hath promised your fathers to bring them into a land which floweth with milk and honey. Moses thus leading the people unto this promise which had been made unto the Patriarchs, showeth sufficiently that God maketh no new promise, but that he ratifieth and confirmeth that which he had said. And why? Is it that he was bound to them which were not yet born? No: but because he had loved their fathers, as he hath above said. It is true, that Moses now showeth, that the people was partaker of such a promise, if so be they should observe the law of God. ⟨image 128⟩But what? We must yet always come to this point, that men are utterly confounded, if they will oppose themselves against GOD, alleging any dignity or worthiness of their own, and that they shall always remain in their condemnation, they shall find that they are all accursed. It behoveth therefore that they have their only refuge unto the mercy of GOD: and that they know, that when they shall have forced them selves to walk according unto his law, that God shall owe them nothing, albeit he will not leave to accomplish that which he hath promised them, even by his mere goodness and free mercy. Lo then how this place ought to be understood.

And albeit there be alwayes many blots and staines in vs: yea, much stinking corruption, except it should be washed away by the bloud of Iesus Christ: yet hee alwayes accepteth vs by the meanes thereof, and no otherwise. So, let vs learne to boast our selues, and glorifie in the meere and only mercie of God, and not vaunt vs of anie merites. And in the meane time let vs not cease to be incited and stirred vp with so much greater zeale to serue him, when we see that hee will allure and winne vs vnto him selfe by such mildnesse and gentlenesse. Yea Moses sheweth, that whatsoeuer God promiseth vnto his people, when they shall obserue his law, procedeth from this fountaine, rather than from anie obligation. And this is that which he saith, As God hath promised to thy fathers: as if he said, Beloued, serue God, and he shall be a good maister vnto you. And thinke not that you haue lost your time & labour when you shall haue obserued his law: for you shall haue a large reward, which is made readie for you. But withall consider ye whence it proceedeth: Behold the fountaine (saith hee:) that is, that before ye were borne and brought into this worlde, God hath promised your fathers to bring them into a land which floweth with milke and honie. Moses thus leading the people vnto this promise which had beene made vnto the Patriarches, sheweth sufficiently that God maketh no new promise, but that he ratifieth and confirmeth that which hee had said. And why? Is it that he was bound to them which were not yet born? No: but because he had loued their fathers, as he hath aboue said. It is true, that Moses now sheweth, that the people was partaker of such a promise, if so be they should obserue the lawe of God.