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 see then by this, what a fantastical imagination the Papistical fondlings have. For, thus they say, That we must in no wise presume that God will hear us when we call upon him: and their reason forsooth is this, forsomuch as we know not whether we be in the state of grace or not: For this, say they, were too too great presumption to think. Why, what is then to be done? Forsooth, They tell us that we must pray doubtfully: and that it is sufficient, if we remit all to their mother holy Church: to wit, that we must have this answer always ready in our mouths, I believe as the holy Church believeth. Thus we see how, that they would have our faith to be doubtful and uncertain. Now, Saint Paul telleth us, that God liketh not of this gear: For, he sayeth, That the Gospel is not preached unto us, to make us stand in doubt, but to assure us of our salvation. And therefore we may easily judge what Popish faith is, wherein we were nursled in the time of ignorance.

Wée sée then by this, what a fantasticall imagination the Papisticall fondlinges haue. For, thus they say, That we must in no wise presume that God will heare vs when we call vpon him: and their reason forsooth is this, forsomuch as we knowe not whether we be in the state of grace or not: For this, say they, were too too great presumption to thinke. Why, what is then to be done? Forsooth, They tell vs that we must pray doubtfully: and that it is sufficient, if wée remit all to their mother holy Church: to wyt, that wée must haue this answere alwayes readie in our mouthes, I beléeue as the holie Church beléeueth. Thus we sée howe, that they would haue our fayth to be doubtfull and vncertaine. Now, Saint Paule telleth vs, that God lyketh not of this geare: For, hée sayeth, That the Gospell is not preached vnto vs, to make vs stande in doubt, but to assure vs of our saluation. And therefore we may easily iudge what Popish fayth is, wherein we were nusled in the time of ignoraunce.

Wherefore, let us understand, that God hath bestowed a singular ⟨p. 189⟩grace upon us, in pulling us out of that darkness of error and superstition wherein we were, and hath given us his Gospel to bring us into the way of salvation. When we then shall consider of all these things, we ought to sigh and groan, seeing that God of his great goodness, hath chosen us amongst all the rest of the nations, to bestow the knowledge of his most holy and blessed word. Now, this is the mischief that is in Popery (as hath been already said) when as they say that we may not in full assurance call upon God, for that, say they, is presumption, and therefore that he is to be called upon, doubtfully. Neither are they the simpler and common sort of people which do maintain this: But even the greatest and chiefest Doctors, and such as are thought to have all the holy scriptures imprinted in their hearts. In deed they will not be over earnest, in defending of their Mawmets: although, to say truly, they take very great pain to maintain them: But when any occasion is given unto them, to vomit out their blasphemies, they will be so stout, as that a man would think they were Bedlam like. And why so? Forsooth, because the Devil would have them hinder us, from calling of the name of God as we should. Even so then, as many as pray unto God as the Papists do, let them be assured, that God misliketh of them. For (as hath already been said) we must not pray unto God after this manner, as to say, repeat, and oftentimes mumble up, the Lords prayer. Because all they that so do, are no better then Sorcerers and Witches. It is true in deed that we should not, from the heart, make over long prayers: For when we do pray, we should forsake our selves, and forget our own nature, the Devil, and all his enticements, to the end we might the more readier come unto our Lord God. And after this sort it is that we must deal.