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…

But there are other promises to pass this world withal, for the easing of us in our miseries. In those God will cantle us out our morsels, so as we shall now and then have hunger and thirst with them. Yea and yet doth not that impeach but that he is faithful still. For (as I said) he knoweth what is meet for us, and therefore we must not take his promises precisely word for word in those cases: that is too say, we must not take them according too the bare letter or sound of them, too say, that God should do all that is said there too the uttermost syllable: No: but we must always bear in mind, that he knoweth what is for our behoof and benefit. Now then, if he take us soon out of this world, it is because he knoweth it too be for our welfare and salvation. And so ye see that God doth not falsify his promise, when he taketh those away in the flower of their age, which have obeyed their fathers and mothers. Surely none doth ⟨p. 310⟩so discharge himself, but that he should always be found faulty, if God listed too sift him with rigour: but yet shall some have done their duty in such wise, as God liketh well of the obedience which they have yielded, and yet notwithstanding he faileth not too take them out of the world: for he seeth that it should not be for their profit too tarry there any longer. As for (other) reasons that are hid in him, and in his secret wisdom, it behoveth us too cast down our eyes at them, because we cannot attain unto them. Howbeit let us understand, that if there were no hope of a better life, those that are taken away so soon out of the world, were too be greatly lamented. But seeing we know that this world is but a pilgrimage, and this life but a journeying to bring us too the rest of heaven: we must not complain when God delivereth us from the great number of miseries wherewith we be besieged here beneath, too take us up too a perfect happiness which waiteth for us (above.) But howsoever the case stand, let us bear in mind the thing that is said here: that is too wit, that when God holdeth us long time in this world, it is as a pledge of his fatherly love towards us. And therefore we ought too be the wa•er in reckoning the days that we live, while we be in this life.

But there are other promises to passe this world withall, for the easing of vs in our miseries. In those God wil cantle vs out our morsels, so as wee shall now and then haue hunger and thrist with them. Yea and yit dooth not that impeach but that he is faythfull styll. For (as I sayde) he knoweth what is meete for vs, and therefore wee must not take his promises precyzely woord for woord in those caces: that is too say, we must not take them according too the bare letter or sound of them, too say, that God should doo all that is sayd there too the vttermost sillable: No: but wee must alwayes beare in mynd, that he knoweth what is for our behoofe and benefite. Now then, if he take vs soone out of this world, it is bycause he knoweth it too bee for our welfare and saluation. And so yee see that God dooth not falsifye his promis, when he taketh those away in the flower of their age, which haue obeyed their fathers and moothers. Surely none dooth