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…

For although we see both in heaven and earth, many troubles, and breaches, so that if we went all the world over, we should see nothing else but all accursed, yet must we take pleasure and delight in the maker of all these things. This then is the sum and effect of the meaning of the Prophet. And this is at this present spoken even unto us: For although God visiteth us, and bestoweth his Gospel upon us, yet doeth he not it to this end that we should in such sort live here, as it pleaseth our selves, in all ease and delight, and be void of war, famine, and pestilence: But we are advisedly to consider, that when such things come to pass, and that we see so great and general a confusion, so that we cannot tell which way to turn us: we must even then, I say, prepare our hearts, patiently to abide those afflictions, and not think them strange: because they light upon us for our unthankfulness. For, the meaning of our good God is, to show him self a gentle and loving Father: and if we patiently suffer these things at his hands, it will appear, that he calleth not us his good Sons for nothing: But if we be so rude and unmannerly, as that we will not take, and acknowledge him for our Father, is it not meet that he should correct us for such a contempt. For, let us understand, that he hath as great authority over us, as any father hath over his child. Howbeit, he is a Father for ever: and therefore, when as he afflicteth us (be it never so grievously) yet must we not despair for all that: But we must understand that he doeth it because we are unthankful.

For although we sée both in heauen and earth, many troubles, and breaches, so that if we went all the world ouer, we should sée nothing els but all accursed, yet must we take pleasure and delight in the maker of all these thinges. This then is the summe and effect of the meaning of the Prophet. And this is at this present spoken euen vnto vs: For although God visiteth vs, and bestoweth his Gospell vpon vs, yet doeth hée not it to this end that we should in such sort liue heere, as it pleaseth our selues, in all ease and delight, and be voyde of warre, famine, and pestilence: But wée are aduisedly to consider, that when such thinges come to passe, and that we sée so great and generall a confusion, so that we cannot tell which way to turne vs: wee must euen then, I say, prepare our heartes, paciently to abide those afflictions, and not thinke them straunge: because they light vpon vs for our vnthankfulnesse. For, the meaning of our good God is, to shew him selfe a gentle and louing Father: and if we paciently suffer these thinges at his handes, it will appeare, that hée calleth not vs his good Sonnes for nothing: But if we be so rude and vnmannerlie, as that we will not take, and acknowledge him for our Father, is it not méete that hée should correct vs for such a contempt. For, let vs vnderstande, that hée hath as great authoritie ouer vs, as any father hath ouer his childe. Howbeit, he is a Father for euer: and therefore, when as hée afflicteth vs (be it neuer so gréeuously) yet must we not dispaire for all that: But wée must vnderstande that hée doeth it because we are vnthankfull.