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 he concludeth again, that we must hold our own too resist the wicked days, until we be fast settled after the performance of all. Here he putteth us in mind again, that it is not enough for us too have fought stoutly for a mooneth or for a year, but that we must hold out too the end, yea even all our life long. For God hath set us in this world too maintain the battle until we be come too the rest of heaven. The earth then is not only as a pilgrimage too the faithful, but also as a Camp where we must always have enemies too trouble us night and day without ceasing. That is the cause why Saint Paul sayeth expressly, that we must resist till we have finished and performed all things. And by the evil days, he meaneth all our life, but specially (the times) when our lord suffereth us too be pinched more than ordinary. For although God try us too the end: yet doth he forbear us now and then. For if he had not pity of our weakness, what would become of us? It is true that we must no• take truce with Satan: but yet doth God sometimes give us respites, so as we be not grieved with extremity. The evil days therefore are, when there be great and in manner extreme temptations and trials, howbeit that all our whole life is comprehended under the same words. It is true that that impeacheth not our continual happiness, but that God taketh us still for his people and heritage: but yet shall there always be that evilness whereof Saint Paul speaketh here. Then let us not make our account of an earthly paradise here beneath, or too reap here the fruit of our victory, or too live in rest: but rather let us assure our selves, that miseries are prepared for us without ceasing or number. Wherefore let us be armed too abide them, and too overcome them. And it is no pleading against Gods will in this behalf. It is very true that he could handle us much gentler, and that he could so set us alone by our selves, as our enemies should not come at us, nor we suffer any vexation: but it liketh him not too do so. Therefore we must bow down our necks, and every of us buckle himself too the battle that God calleth us unto. For (as sayeth Saint Peter) it is good reason that our faith which is much preciouser than gold and silver,¹ should be tried. Seeing that a corruptible metal is fined by fire:

And he concludeth agein, that wee must hold our owne too resist the wicked dayes, vntill wee bee fast settled after the performance of all. Heere he putteth vs in mynd agein, that it is not ynough for vs too haue fought toutly for a mooneth or for a yeere, but that wee must hold out too the end, yea euen all our lyfe long. For God hath set vs in this world too maynteyne the battell vntill wee bee come too the rest of heauen. The earth then is not only as a pilgrimage too the faythfull, but also as a Camp where wee must alwayes haue enemies too trubble vs nyght and day without ceassing. That is the cause why Saint Paule sayeth expresly, that wee must resist till wee haue finished and performed all things. And by the euill dayes, he meaneth all our lyfe, but specially (the tymes) when our lord suffereth vs too be pinched more than ordinarie. For although God trye vs too the end: yit doth he forbeare vs now and then. For if he had not pitie of our weaknesse, what would become of vs? It is trew that wee must no take truce with Satan: but yit dooth God sometymes giue vs respits, so as we bee not greeued with extremitie. The euill dayes therfore are, when there bee greate and in maner extreme temptations and tryalls, howbeeit that all our whole lyfe is comprehended vnder the same words. It is true that that impeacheth not our continuall happinesse, but that God taketh vs still for his people and heritage: but yit shall there alwayes bee that euilnesse wherof Saint Paule speaketh heere. Then let vs not make our account of an earthly paradyse heere beneath, or too reape heere the frute of our victorie, or too liue in rest: but rather let vs assure our selues, that miseries are prepared for vs without ceassing or number. Wherfore let vs bee armed too abyde them, and too ouercome them. And it is no pleading ageinst Gods will in this behalf. It is verye trewe that he could handle vs much gentlyer, and that hee could so set vs alone by our selues, as our enemies should not come at vs, nor wee suffer any vexation: but it lyketh him not too doo so. Therfore wee must bow downe our necks, and euery of vs buckle himself too the battell that God calleth vs vntoo. For (as sayeth Saint Peter) it is good reason that our fayth which is much preciouser than gold and siluer,