Divers sermons of Master John Calvin, concerning the divinity, humanity, and nativity of our…Diuers sermons of Master Iohn Caluin, concerning the diuinitie, humanitie, and natiuitie of our…

WE have this morning seen, how the Son of God was strengthened by prayer for the abiding of so hard and dangerous a combat, as the appearing before the judgement seat of god his father to receive sentence of condemnation as our pledge or borrow. For it behooved that mans weakness should be seen in him: and yet was this nothing at all derogatory from his divine Majesty, although he was thus made of no reputation for our salvation. And we have here besides to note, that he prayed not only once wherein we see, that he hath by his example, exhorted us not to faint, although we are not heard so soon as we would. Wherefore they that are faint hearted, because God, answereth them not at the first, show that they know not what prayer is: For the right rule for us to come unto God, is to persevere and continue. And therefore the chiefest exercise of our faith is prayer, Yet, faith cannot be without hope. Then there is no question of it that God should feed our humours so soon as we have once opened our lips, and framed our petitions? But it is meet that he should delay them, and make us oftentimes to languish, that we might know what it is to pray earnestly, and without hypocrisy, and that we might also declare that our faith is so established upon the word of God, as that it bridleth, to the end we might patiently abide, until such time as the fit opportunity be come, wherein we should be holpen. Let us therefore mark that our Lord Jesus Christ did not pray only once, to God his father, but went also again the second time.

WE haue this morning séene, howe the Sonne of God was strengthened by prayer for the abiding of so hard and dangerous a combate, as the appearing before the iudgement seat of god his father to receiue sentence of comdemnation as our pledge or borrowe. For it behooued that mans weakenes should be séene in him: and yet was this nothing at all derogatorie from his diuine Maiestie, although hée was thus made of no reputation for our saluation. And wée haue héere besides to note, that he prayed not onely once wherein wée sée, that hée hath by his example, exhorted vs not to faint, although we are not hearde so soone as wée woulde. Wherefore they that are faint hearted, because God, answereth them not at the first, shew that they knowe not what prayer is: For the right rule for vs to come vnto God, is to perseuer and continue. And therefore the chiefest exercise of our faith is prayer, Yet, faith cannot be without hope. Then there is no question of it that God shoulde féede our homours so soone as wée haue once opened our lippes, and framed our petitions? But it is méete that hée shoulde delay them, and make vs oftentimes to languishe, that wée might know what it is to pray earnestly, and without hypocrisie, and that wée might also declare that our faith is so established vpon the worde of God, as that it brideleth, to the ende wée might paciently abide, vntill such time as the fit opportunitie be come, wherein we should be holpen. Let vs therefore marke that our Lord Iesus Christ did not pray onely once, to God his father, but went also againe the second time.