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…

Howbeit, he saith, in the Lord, least men should imagine themselves able too furnish out the matter with their own freewill, and with their own cunning. Therefore, Be ye strong in the Lord (sayeth he) yea and in the mightiness of his power. When he doeth us too wit, that God will utter such power, as we shall not need to doubt of victory against all that the devil can practise, so we be not reckless, ne fall asleep. Wherefore let us call upon God, that he may help us and succour us at our need. So then, let these two things go together with us: that is too wit, first wakefulness, and such care as the faithful should have too strengthen themselves: and on the other side, hearty desirousness too call upon God. And this is a text well worthy too be marked, as which containeth a great matter in few words. For first we see that we must not be slothful if we covet too rule our life according too Gods will, but forasmuch as every man beareth with him self, and we desire nothing but too shake of all care, and too cast the things at our backs (as they say) which might trouble us: too the end we be not so nice, ⟨p. 322⟩we must mark first of all, that if we will serve God, we must enforce our selves, and that is as much to say as we must fight against the devil. For (as I said afore) he is not idle, neither will he suffer any of us to do our duty with such ease, as though we did but walk up and down in some fair place: but he will set thorns, and cast logs in our ways too stop us. Again, he will give such girds at us, as shall be enough too overthrow us a hundred times, before we can step one pace, unless God aid us. Forasmuch therefore as we cannot walk in the fear of God without fighting: we ought too bear Saint Pauls warning in mind. Furthermore he intendeth also too make us perceive our own weakness. For we know that men do bear much with themselves, and seek nothing but too welter in their pleasures. Also there are which presume upon their own strength, & bear themselves on hand that they be able to work wonders as though they were as stout as could be required. And this cursed persuasion hath deceived wretched men in all ages, and by that mean hath freewill trotted in every mans mouth. But S. Paul telleth us here, that we have need too be strengthened: which saying importeth that we be weak by nature.

Howbeit, he sayth, in the Lord, least men should imagin themselues able too furnish out the matter with their owne freewill, and with their owne cunning. Therefore, Bee yee strong in the Lord (sayeth he) yea and in the myghtinesse of his power. When hee dooeth vs too wit, that God will vtter such power, as wee shal not neede to doubt of victorie ageinst all that the diuell can practyze, so we bee not rechlesse, ne fall asleepe. Wherfore let vs call vppon God, that he may help vs and succour vs at our neede. So then, let these twoo things go toogither with vs: that is too wit, first wakefulnesse, and such care as the faythfull should haue too strengthen themselues: and on the other syde, hartie desyrousnesse too call vppon God. And this is a text well woorthie too bee marked, as which conteyneth a greate matter in fewe woords. For first wee see that wee must not bee slothfull if wee couet too rule our lyfe according too Gods will, but forasmuch as euery man beareth with him self, and we desyre nothing but too shake of all care, and too cast the things at our backs (as they say) which myght trubble vs: too the end wee bee not so nyce,