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

When mention shall be made of faith, the articles shall be drawn from out of the forge of men, the holy Scripture shall be of no more force, than as if it were dead, and utterly brought to ruin. Lo how they behave them selves herein, and when question is of the service of GOD, they wander (as we have already said) after their own inventions, and lo, My meaning is good, will they say, and they think God will suffer him self to be ruled as a little child, and that he will never come to examine all the doctrine of Popery. Again, if men speak of faith, is there any talk of the free promises of GOD? No, but they attribute all to them selves. When they will speak of the office of Jesus Christ, they overthrow the virtue of his death and passion, as much as in them lieth. When any question is to be handled of their salvation, then will they come in with their free will, their merits, and satisfactions. But we ought contrariwise to return to the mere and only grace of the holy Ghost, confessing that we are in bondage and servitude of sin, but that we are thence delivered by the mercy and goodness of God. And here hence cometh it, that the holy scripture calleth the remission and forgiveness of sins our righteousness. We must therefore come unto this point, and also know, that if we have failed in our duty, we can not bring any other payment or satisfaction, than that which we borrow of the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Of all this there is nothing to be found in Popery: If question be of calling upon GOD, they will make their vagaries unto their he Saints and she Saints: and Jesus Christ in the mean time shall not be known such a one as he is, nor clothed with the office which hath been given him of God his Father. But the Papists degrade him as sacrilegious and false traitorous villains, which seek nothing else but to bury altogether, and to set forth to open prey all the glory and dignity which God his Father hath given him. As much may be said of all their service and religion. We see how the Sacraments are polluted and defiled among them.

When mention shalbe made of faith, the articles shalbe drawen from out of the forge of men, the holie Scripture shalbe of no more force, than as if it were dead, and vtterlie brought to ruine. Loe howe they behaue them selues herein, and when question is of the seruice of GOD, they wander (as we haue alreadie said) after their owne inuentions, and loe, My meaning is good, will they say, and they thinke God will suffer him selfe to bee ruled as a litle childe, and that he will neuer come to examine all the doctrine of Poperie. Againe, if men speake of faith, is there anie talke of the free promises of GOD? No, but they attribute all to them selues. When they will speake of the office of Iesus Christ, they ouerthrowe the vertue of his death and passion, as much as in them lieth. When anie question is to be handled of their saluation, then will they come in with their free will, their merites, and satisfactions. But we ought contrariwise to returne to the meere and onelie grace of the holie Ghost, confessing that we are in bondage and seruitude of sinne, but that we are thence deliuered by the mercie and goodnesse of God. And here hence cōmeth it, that the holy scripture calleth the remission and forgiuenesse of sinnes our righteousnesse. We must therefore come vnto this point, and also knowe, that if we haue failed in our duetie, we can not bring anie other payment or satisfaction, than that which we borrowe of the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ. Of all this there is nothing to be found in Poperie: If question be of calling vpon GOD, they will make their vagaries vnto their he Saintes and shee Saintes: and Iesus Christ in the meane time shall not be knowen such a one as he is, nor clothed with the office which hath bene giuen him of God his Father. But the Papistes degrade him as sacrilegious and false traiterous villaines, which seeke nothing els but to burie altogether, and toset forth to open prey all the glorie and dignitie which God his Father hath giuen him. As much may be said of all their seruice and religion. We see howe the Sacramentes are polluted and defiled among them.