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,…

yea although he could not so soon think of God, but he lamenteth that he is banished from his temple, & shut out from the use of his sacraments & other exercises of faith, yet hath he no greater pleasure then to lament such an evil. Now on the other side was not this his chiefest labour? Had he overcome his enemies to be peaceable in his realm & renowned amongst all? had he the mean to plunge himself in all pleasures? yet for all that he remained firm in this, that his true felicity is to have access to the temple, to the end he might communicate with the order of the church. Wherefore we see that he protesteth not in vain too have asked this one thing: for it was so dear unto him, that he did always let go the rest for it. Let us see now who it is amongst us which hath such a judgement as David had. They who content themselves with felicity in those goods which they have in their hands, do they esteem the liberty of calling upon the name of god purely, hearing his word preached, or using his Sacraments, more then their domestical rest? There are very few that do so: but rather their fatness maketh them so sluggish that they care for nothing but for their paunch & to make good cheer. To be short, the world is such that it setteth more store by a trough well stuffed with ⟨p. 25⟩meat than for the church of God. If a man speak of the troubles which may come, every man greatly feareth to be spoiled by wars, to suffer losses, griefs & hatreds: but they never make any reckoning of losing the preaching of the doctrine of their salvation, of the pure use of the Sacraments, & such like helps which serve to draw them near unto god: & also one shall perceive that they that are deprived thereof are not greatly touched with it. If the revenue come not in, at the end of the year or at the quarter day, to the end they may keep such a train as their ambition driveth them to desire: if their gain and trades decay, if their credit be lost, they continually torment themselves: notwithstanding the ordinary pasture of the children of god (after which they ought greatly to hunger) is nothing unto them. And yet this is it that God showeth very well by that threatening that he maketh, that there cannot a greater evil come unto us. I will send (saith he) a famine, not of bread nor of water: ¹(as if he should say this is a small matter:) but of hearing my word.

yea althogh he could not so soone thinke of God, but he lamenteth that he is banished frō his tēple, & shut out frō the vse of his sacramēts & other exercises of faith, yet hath heno greater pleasure then to lamēt such an euil. Now on the other side was not this his chiefest labor? Had he ouercome his enimies to be peaceable in his realme & renowmed amongst al? had he the meane to plūdge himselfe in all pleasures? yet for al that he remained firme in this, that his true felicitie is to haue accesse to the temple, to the end he might cōmunicat with the order of the church. Wherfore we see that he protesteth not in vaine too haue asked this one thīg: for it was so deare vnto him, that he did alwaies let goe the rest for it. Let vs see now who it is amōgst vs which hath such a iudgemēt as Dauid had. They who cōtēt thēselues with felicitie in those goodes which they haue in their handes, do they esteem the libertie of calling vpō the name of god purely, hearing his word preached, or vsing his Sacramēts, more then their domestical rest? There are very few that do so: but rather their fatnes maketh them so sluggish that they care for nothing but for their paūch & to make good cheare. To be short, the world is such that it setteth more store by a trough wel stuffed with