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…

and besides, think not by our over much babbling to have ⟨p. 29⟩gotten any thing, but are driven by an earnest affection, then is our perseverance right, after the example of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now this point is to be marked of us which we have touched, to wit, that the chiefest point of all our petitions is this, to have God so to rule over us, as that we agree with one accord, to submit our selves unto his good will. And this, I say, is a necessary point, for us. For look upon our Lord Jesus Christ, although all his affections, were just holy, and agreeing unto righteousness, yet because he was a natural man, it was meet he should fight against anguish, and sorrow, that might any way lay hold on him, and hold him captive under the obedience of GOD his father. And therefore how shall we do, in whom is nothing else but wickedness, and rebellion, and so corrupt, as that we are not able to apply our minds to nothing whatsoever, but that God is eft sons offended therewith, Since then it is so, let us, when we pray unto GOD, so bridle our selves, as that none of us follow our own lusts as we are wonted: But let us understand that we shall have greatly profited, whenas we can subdue them, to the end that God might have mastery over us, There is also a very notable saying, Whenas our lord Jesus Christ saith unto his Disciples, Watch, and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: for although the spirit in deed be ready, yet is the flesh weak. He then here showeth that the principallest spur to prick us on to call upon God is this, That we must fight, and that our enemies are at hand, and very strong, & we not able possibly to resist them, except our aide come from above, and that God fighteth for us. And this we know, that when a man is assured of himself, he desireth to follow altogether his pleasures, and to sleep at his ease: for we are not willingly careful nor studious, except necessity driveth us thereto. Surely, it is an excellent thing to be at rest and quiet: But we think we shall never be at rest, without we become as it were like brute beasts. And therefore it is even so, as that necessity must drive us to be watchful. Wherefore it was not causeless that our Lord Jesus told us that we must abide many alarms. For that which he once spake unto his Disciples, appertaineth unto us all in general:

and besides, think not by our ouer much babbling to haue ⟨p. 29⟩gotten any thing, but are driuen by an earnest affectiō, then is our perseuerāce right, after ye example of our Lord Iesus Christ. Now this point is to bée marked of vs which wée haue touched, to wit, that the chiefest point of all our petitions is this, to haue God so to rule ouer vs, as that wée agrée with one accord, to submit our selues vnto his good will. And this, I say, is a necessary point, for vs. For looke vpon our Lorde Iesus Christ, although all his affections, were iust holy, and agréeing vnto righteousnesse, yet because hee was a naturall man, it was méete hee should fight against anguishe, and sorrowe, that might any way lay holde on him, and holde him captiue vnder the obedience of GOD his father. And therfore how shall wée do, in whom is nothing els but wickednesse, and rebellion, and so corrupt, as that wee are not able to apply our mindes to nothing whatsoeuer, but that God is eft soones offended therewith, Since then it is so, let vs, when wée pray vnto GOD, so bridle our selues, as that none of vs followe our owne lustes as wée are wonted: But let vs vnderstand that wée shal haue greatly profited, whenas wée can subdue them, to the ende that God might haue maistrie ouer vs, There is also a very notable saying, Whēas our lord Iesus Christ saith vnto his Disciples, Watch, and pray, that yee enter not into temptation: for although the spirite in deede bee ready, yet is the fleshe weake. Hée then héere sheweth that the principallest spurre to pricke vs on to call vpon God is this, That wee must fight, and that our enimies are at hand, and very strong, & we not able possibly to resist them, except our aide come from aboue, and that God fighteth for vs. And this wée knowe, that when a man is assured of himselfe, hée desireth to followe altogether his pleasures, and to sléepe at his ease: for wee are not willingly carefull nor studious, except necessitie driueth vs thereto. Surely, it is an excellent thing to bée at rest and quiet: But wee thinke wée shall neuer bée at rest, without wee become as it were like bruite beastes. And therefore it is euen so, as that necessitie must driue vs to bée watchfull. Wherefore it was not causelesse that our Lorde Iesus tolde vs that wée must abide many allarmes. For that which hee once spake vnto his Diciples, apperteineth vnto vs all in generall: