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,…

Let us therefore my brethren take good heed, For it is to be feared, lest the most part find themselves condemned either in the one or in the other. Howe many be there that flee Sermons, and think themselves best at ease if they never hear any speaking thereof? But I leave them there, as those that fully show them selves too be contemners of God. Only I speak of the contempt or coldness that is in many, who never remember to come to the Sermon, unless that the Sunday put them in mind thereof: and yet they imagine they have done well, as though they would make up a number together of many running too God. The Bell may well ring daily, but it is enough if they show them selves at the end of the week. They are called four times every sunday: but they come very notably, if they be found there once. ⟨image 43⟩For there are that can sufficiently dispense, with themselves for coming once in xv. days. To be short the greatest sort of the multitude verify the old Proverb: The nearer the Church the further from God. Yea and some be of the number of those who have forsaken their country to come here to serve God, there are who yet in this behalf behave themselves negligently enough. What is too be done then? forasmuch as God hath showed himself unto us, let us behold his beauty. But we must not cast behind our back the manner of beholding it: and that is, that we be ravished in the love thereof, and changed into his likeness, as S. Paul saith.¹ And that we may the better do this, it is meet that we be more attentive then we are, or have been accustomed too be, too mark that which God setteth forth unto us in his Temple: For what is the cause that we reap so little fruit, but that we do not more diligently apply our study to that which is there said and done? Thus we have our ears beaten with continual doctrine, whereas our hearts are no whit touched. Moreover there are a great many which never hear & understand a whole sermon through, but here and there a word or half a word rather with out regard. Wherefore it is not without cause that David speaketh of visiting the temple of the Lord so diligently. And in very deed the great treasures of the wisdom of God which are there fet out unto us, worthily deserve that a man should settle himself carefully to mark them.

Let vs therefore my brethren take good heede, For it is to be feared, leste the most parte finde themselues condemned either in the one or in the other. Howe many be there that flee Sermons, and think themselues best at ease if they neuer heare any speaking thereof? But I leaue them there, as those that fully shew them selues too bee contemners of God. Onely I speake of the contempt or coldenes that is in many, who neuer remember to come to the Sermon, vnlesse that the Sunday put them in minde thereof: and yet they imagine they haue doone well, as though they woulde make vppe a number togither of many running too God. The Bell maye well ringe dayly, but it is enoughe if they shewe them selues at the ende of the weeke. They are called foure times euery sunday: but they come very notably, if they be found there once.