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…

And that also is the cause why he setteth these things as one against another: not too show any contrariety, but rather too accord them together. For he sayeth, that we must serve God on the behalf of our masters, with all willingness: and afterward setteth down Gods will on the other side. Then is it a very good melody which answereth very well, that we should know how it is Gods will, that servants should obey their masters. And this will of Gods must dispatch all objections that might hinder us or stop us. When the devil tempteth us too think any thing strange that is commanded us, he enticeth us too our destruction. Now then, let us take Gods will as our sovereign welfare and perfect happiness, assuring our selves, that howsoever we be handled at his hand, yet he loveth us still, and hath an eye too that which is good for us. Let that serve for one point. And if we have such persuasion well rooted in our hearts, it is certain that this willingness which S. Paul speaketh of will follow with it, so as we shall find no loathness in our selves, too grudge against it, as we see they do which are enforced to do things against their wills: for they grunt at it, and although they dare not be aknowen of it, yet their hearts are fell, and there is nothing but rancour ⟨image 336⟩in them. Therefore Saint Paul setteth down willingness, that is too say, that we should do all things with a good will and freely. And so shall we make our state lee•some and pleasant. For as for them that do nothing but by force and constraint: they cannot eschew the necessity of obeying, and yet in the mean while they be tormenters too themselves, and work themselves more spite then they could receive by all the sorrows that they can allege. For when we be handled roughly by our masters, superiors, and Magistrates: yet if we be sure that God accepteth our service, it assuageth all the grief that we can conceive, so that when we have done our duty, we take our repast with praising of God, we take our rest as a relief that he giveth us for our infirmities, and besides this we will ever have an eye too the heavenly life, and take courage at it too walk on, though we have never so many stops. Ye see then that Gods children shall always make a hundred times better market, when they do their duty in serving God freely:

And that also is the cause why he setteth these things as one ageinst another: not too shewe any contrarietie, but rather too accord them toogither. For he sayeth, that wee must serue God on the behalfe of our maysters, with all willingnesse: and afterwarde setteth downe Gods will on the other syde. Then is it a very good melodie which answereth very well, that wee should know how it is Gods wyll, that seruantes should obey their maysters. And this will of Gods must dispatch all obiections that myght hinder vs or stop vs. When the diuell tempteth vs too thinke any thing straunge that is commaunded vs, he intyceth vs too our destruction. Now then, let vs take Gods wyll as our souereine welfare and perfect happinesse, assuring our selues, that howsoeuer wee bee handled at his hand, yit he loueth vs styll, and hath an eye too that which is good for vs. Let that serue for one poynt. And if wee haue such perswasion well rooted in our hartes, it is certein that this willingnesse which S. Paule speaketh of will follow with it, so as wee shall fynde no lothnesse in our selues, too grudge ageinst it, as wee see they doo which are inforced to doo things ageinst their wils: for they grunt at it, and although they dare not bee aknowen of it, yit their hartes are fell, and there is nothing but rancor