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…

We know that prosperity doth so puff men up, as they bear themselves on hand that they ought too be privileged, and their state exempted from the common array: and too be short, that they ought too do what they list. On the contrary part, the poorer sort which are despised and shaken of, think that God hath as good as forgotten them, and thereupon they cannot conceive that he hath any care of them. Therefore it is expedient that such as are so drunken with presumptuousness, as they take overmuch upon them under colour that they be in credit and authority, should have their courages abated, and hear it told them, that they have a master in heaven, too punish them, though they scape the hands of men. On the other side, it is requisite that they should be comforted which are ready to quail, and should be tempted too fall into despair. And Saint Paul showed them both here. For he telleth the Servants they need not be afraid but that God regardeth them, so they walk in his fear, and that he hath a care of them, and accepteth their service, as well as though they were in honourable state, and very great dignity too the worldward. And unto the masters he sayeth, they have a superior in heaven, before whom they must yield their account, and that there their greatness and highness will not go for payment. For all those things are nothing before God, because all things that bear a great gloss and countenance too the world, do vanish away when they come before the sovereign judge. On the other side also here followeth that which is said in another text,¹ namely that they which are faint hearted, must be comforted: for else they might quail, because it would seem too them, that God regardeth them not: I speak of such as are despised too the worldward. Therefore it must be told them, that God hath not forgotten them, though it be his will too keep them low for a•yme. It behoveth every of us too apply this too his own use, according too the state that God shall have set us in. For when we be troubled wrongfully, when men make none account of us, when men shake us of: if we imagine that God hath given us over too, we cannot call upon him. And on the other side also, we cannot serve him with a free hart, because we think it is ⟨p. 320⟩but labour lost, & too no purpose.

WEe knowe that prospertie dooth so puffe men vp, as they beare themselues on hand that they ought too bee priuiledged, and theyr state exempted from the common aray: and too bee short, that they ought too doo what they lyst. On the contrary part, the poorer sorte which are despyzed and shaken of, thinke that God hath as good as forgotten them, and thereuppon they cannot conceyue that he hath any care of them. Therefore it is expedient that such as are so drunken with presumptuousnesse, as they take ouermuch vppon them vnder colour that they bee in credit and authority, should haue their corages abated, and heare it told them, that they haue a mayster in heauen, too punish them, though they scape the handes of men. On the other syde, it is requisyte that they should be comforted which are redye to quayle, and should bee tempted too fall intoo despayre. And Saint Paule shewed them both heere. For he telleth the Seruants they neede not bee afrayd but that God regardeth them, so they walke in his feare, and that he hath a care of them, and accepteth their seruice, as well as though they were in honorable state, and very great dignitie too the worldward. And vntoo the maysters he sayeth, they haue a superiour in heauen, before whom they must yeeld their account, and that there their greatnesse and hyghnesse will not go for payment. For al those things are nothing before God, bycause all things that beare a great glosse and countenance too the world, doo vanish away when they come before the souerein iudge. On the other syde also heere followeth that which is sayd in another text,