A17722:323
Thirteen sermons of Master John Calvin, entreating of the free election of God in…Thirteene sermons of Maister Iohn Caluine, entreating of the free election of God in…
Thirteen sermons of Master John Calvin, entreating of the free election of God in Jacob, and of reprobation in Esau A treatise wherein every Christian may see the excellent benefits of God towards his children, and his marvellous judgements towards the reprobate, first published in the French tongue, & now translated into English, by John Field, for the comfort of all Christians.Thirteene sermons of Maister Iohn Caluine, entreating of the free election of God in Iacob, and of reprobation in Esau A treatise wherin euery Christian may see the excellent benefites of God towardes his children, and his maruelous iudgements towards the reprobate, firste published in the French toung, & now translated into English, by Iohn Fielde, for the comfort of all Christians.
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for Thomas Man and Toby Cooke, 1579London: printed by Thomas Dawson for Thomas Man and Tobie Cooke, 1579
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
O Jacob it is I and none others that take away thine iniquities. Now albeit God alone hath this power to forgive sins, and too purge us from our spots: yet nevertheless, he doth this by the hand of men. We have in Baptism an infallible token that GOD will not lay our offences too ⟨image 145⟩our charge: but that we are as righteous & clean before him: and farther we have an earnest, that he will renew us by his holy spirit, to the end we should walk in all purity. Now this can not be given us of men: but yet GOD maketh them herein as instruments, and all through his favour. Again, Is it in the power of any mortal creature, too make us partakers of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ? And yet nevertheless in the supper when the bread & the wine are distributed, it is certain that this is not a vain and empty figure, but that all is accomplished, and that our Lord Jesus Christ showeth him self faithful in this: For it is he which giveth it: & it were too much to attribute it to those who are and can do nothing, to say, that they have our Lord Jesus Christ to communicate to them which come unto them to receive a morsel of bread, and a drop or two of wine. And in deed this is well showed unto us, when he saith: My flesh is bread from heaven. And he giveth it after two sorts: one is, that which he gave, when he offered up him self to his father for the cleansing of sins. The bread which I will give unto you (saith he) is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world.
O Iacob it is I and none others that take away thine iniquities. Now albeit God alone hath this power to forgiue sinnes, and too purge vs frō our spots: yet neuertheles, he doth this by the hand of men. We haue in Baptisme an infallible token that GOD will not lay our offences too ⟨image 145⟩our charge: but that we are as righteous & cleane before him: and farther wee haue an earnest, that he will renewe vs by his holy spirit, to the end wee shoulde walke in all puritie. Nowe this can not bee giuen vs of men: but yet GOD maketh them heerein as instrumentes, and all through his fauour. Againe, Is it in the power of any mortall creature, too make vs partakers of the body and blood of our Lord Iesus Christe? And yet neuerthelesse in the supper when the breade & the wine are distributed, it is certaine that this is not a vaine and emptie figure, but that all is accomplyshed, and that our Lord Iesus Christe sheweth him selfe faithfull in this: For it is hee which giueth it: & it were too much to attribute it to those who are and can doe nothing, to saye, that they haue our Lord Iesus Christe to communicate to them which come vnto them to receiue a morsell of bread, and a drop or twoo of wine. And in deede this is wel shewed vnto vs, when he sayth: My flesh is bread from heauen. And hee giueth it after two sortes: one is, that which he gaue, when hee offred vp him selfe to his father for the clensing of sinnes. The breade which I will giue vnto you (saith hee) is my flesh which I will giue for the life of the worlde.