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…

Now, if they who call themselves spiritual, to wit, who have a fervent zeal to serve GOD, and still have recourse unto his Majesty with Prayers and supplications, are yet so weak, as that they may be overthrown, even in the minute of an hour, except they continually call upon GOD: Howe ⟨p. 31⟩shall they then do, who are so earthly and heavy as is lamentable, insomuch as they are not able to trail their legs after them and have scarcely any good motion, or yet one good thought: how greatly ought these men, I say, in respect of the rest enforce themselves? Let every man therefore examine himself, and we shall find our selves to be so cold and blockish, as when any question shall be moved of praying unto God, we go to it, sometimes more for a fashion, then for any affection and love we have thereto, when we see this to be in us, let us learn to be displeased with such a vice, and with such a coldness: yea & let us detest such a corruption, and do our best to call upon God, and lift up our minds unto heaven, and seek for the remedy which is here set before us Thus we see in effect what it is that we must remember. For where it is said that the Disciples were a sleep the third time, yea although they were so lively stirred up (over and besides that which we have this morning spoken of, to wit, that we right well see that our Lord Jesus Christ chose unto him no companion for the helping of him to finish the work of our salvation) Let us also behold our dullness: for it is most certain, that we have no more ablenes then these three of whom mention is here made: and yet were they the most notable men of all the company, and those whom Jesus Christ had marked as it were to be the very flour of the twelve, for the publishing of the Gospel throughout the world. And although here was already never so good a beginning, yet for all that, we see how weak they were. And this is set down to this end, that we should altogether have recourse unto the Son of God, and seek for our want, in him: and not to be faint hearted, whenas we shall feel such weakness in our selves.

Now, if they who call themselues spirituall, to wit, who haue a feruent zeale to serue GOD, and still haue recourse vnto his Maiestie with Prayers and supplications, are yet so weake, as that they may bee ouerthrowne, euen in the minute of an houre, except they continually call vpon GOD: Howe ⟨p. 31⟩shall they then doe, who are so earthly and heauie as is lamentable, insomuch as they are not able to traile their legges after them and haue scarsely any good motion, or yet one good thought: howe greatly ought these men, I say, in respect of the rest inforce themselues? Let euery man therefore examine himselfe, and wée shall finde our selues to bée so cold and blockishe, as when any question shall bée mooued of praying vnto God, wee goe to it, sometimes more for a fashion, then for any affection and loue we haue thereto, when we see this to be in vs, let vs learne to bée displeased with such a vice, and with such a coldnesse: yea & let vs detest such a corruption, and doe our best to call vpon God, and lift vp our mindes vnto heauen, and séeke for the remedie which is héere set before vs Thus wee see in effect what it is that we must remember. For where it is saide that the Disciples were a sléepe the thirde time, yea although they were so liuely stirred vp (ouer and besides that which we haue this morning spoken of, to wit, that we right well see that our Lorde Iesus Christe chose vnto him no companion for the helping of him to finishe the worke of our saluation) Let vs also behold our dulnesse: for it is most certaine, that wée haue no more ablenes then these thrée of whō mention is héere made: and yet were they the most notable men of all the company, and those whom Iesus Christe had marked as it were to bee the very floure of the twelue, for the publishig of the Gospell throughout the worlde. And although héere was already neuer so good a beginning, yet for all that, wée sée howe weake they were. And this is set downe to this ende, that we should altogether haue recourse vnto the Sonne of God, and seeke for our want, in him: and not to bee faint hearted, whenas we shall féele suche weaknesse in our selues.