Four sermons of Master John Calvin entreating of matters very profitable for our time,…Foure sermons of Maister Iohn Caluin entreating of matters very profitable for our time,…

To be short it seemeth that men place their felicity in this too turn away from God. For it seemeth unto them that they have gotten all, when they have found but one shift, though it be the most frivolous and lightest in the world. But seeing that it is so that we are so inclined by nature to run from God, yea to part our selves from him when he draweth nearest unto us, let us pray that he will so strengthen us that we may go courageously forward, until that we have found lively fountains where there was nothing but drought before. And although that that should fail us, yet let us dig cisterns, waiting for rain from Heaven. And if it please God that we feel not his help so quickly, that yet we give not over too go on forward. I doubt not but that this will be found dark too many people: but wherefore is it, but even for want of practise? we may preach a hundred thousand years and never understand a word thereof, until that we learn by experience, what it is too go by a dry and thirsty way, when we must come unto God. But yet ought this doctrine too be familiar too all the faithful, too wit, that they prepare and arm themselves against all the temptations that Satan can devise against them, too break of this path whereby they are brought unto ⟨p. 48⟩God. And in very deed all they which faithfully employ them selves too seek God, although they go not out of their place, yet they find many lets and encumbrances, which might easily turn them away if they had not a settled courage too resist them. But it is great pity, that the greatest pat of them (as I have already said) lie down under those difficulties which offer themselves unto them. They will grant that they ought too do so, and will seem too be very well appointed, but when need is their heart faileth them: and they which are well entered, for the most part lye down for weariness in the middest of the way. This lesson therefore of digging pits, is so much the more to be remembered of us: that is to say, that we seek the means which are yet hidden from us, that we may go on forwards. Let us I say enforce our selves and strive above all humane strength, If things fall not out to our desire, let us not therefore give over, to follow with patience, that happy course wherein God hath set us.

To bee short it seemeth that men place their felicitie in this too turne away from God. For it seemeth vntoo them that they haue gotten al, when they haue founde but one shifte, though it bee the most friuolous and lightest in the world. But seing that it is so that we are so enclined by nature to runne from God, yea to parte our selues frō him when he draweth neerest vnto vs, let vs pray that he wil so strēgthen vs that we may goe couragiously foreward, vntil that wee haue founde liuely fountaines where there was nothing but drought before. And although that that should faile vs, yet let vs digge cesterns, wayting for raine from Heauen. And if it please God that we feele not his helpe so quickly, that yet wee giue not ouer too goe on forewarde. I doubt not but that this wil bee founde darke too many people: but wherefore is it, but euen for want of practise? wee may preach a hundred thousande yeeres and neuer vnderstande a worde thereof, vntil that we learne by experience, what it is too goe by a drie and thirstie way, when wee must come vnto God. But yet ought this doctrine too bee familiar too all the faithful, too wit, that they prepare and arme themselues against all the temptations that Sathan can deuise against them, too breake of this path whereby they are brought vntoo