The sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle of S. Paul too the…The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the…

Now let us come too the promise. God saith, that such as obey so, shall live long. Hereupon we may gather, that this present life is not too be despised, because it is a record of Gods fatherly goodness and love towards us. And in good sooth it is no small thing, that God vouchsafeth to create us, and to set us in this world, not only to live here as brute beasts, but also too reign as his children, and too have dominion over all other creatures. It is said, that his goodness and mercy extend even too Asses,¹ Oxen, and horses. And why? For when he maketh the earth too bear hay for Cattle: doth he not therein show a wonderful goodness towards the poor brute beasts, as I said afore? But there is a far other reason in respect of us. For how enjoy we all the goods and riches whereof the earth is full? God hath poured out his bountifulness in that the earth bringeth us forth such a sort of sundry fruits. Yea we cannot look up too heavenward, high nor low, but we may perceive a thousand (yea infinite) records of Gods goodness.² Too what end shineth the sun, but too give us light? And are not the Moon and the Stars ordained to do us seruis? And yet are they as noble Creatures as may be, insomuch that the heathen folk worshipped them, thinking that there was some Godhead enclosed in them. Again, when we look downward, we see what good things God hath appointed for our use. And although he feed the beasts,³ yet in the end all redoundeth too us, according as Saint Paul speaketh of them, saying: hath God a care of the beasts? That is to say, when as God vouchsafeth too succour the beasts in their need by his providence, he doth it for mens sakes. Seeing then that God hath harboured us after such a sort to make us possess so many good things, besides his creating of us after his own image and likeness: is it not an inestimable benefit? So then, this present life is not to be held scorn of. But there is yet more: God hath set us here as it were in a journey, too come too a further matter: that is too wit, too the everlasting rest, and too the heritage of heaven. Then if this present life guide us thither, that is too say, too the glory which God hath prepared for us, and which was purchased for us by the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ: thereby we see that it is a great benefit, and meet too be esteemed at our hands.