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…

should our faith which is much more excellent, be kept from coming too his pureness and perfection? ⟨image 347⟩Therefore let us think well upon that which is said here, namely that we must finish things (or go through with them.) And that is to the end that no man should cocker himself, when he hath held his own for a while, and taken great pain in employing him self too Gods seruis, but that he should walk on still to the end, & put the thing in ure which S. Paul showeth us in another place,¹ even by his own example. For although he had done so notable things, as a man might say, that God should have held him quite, & given him some rest for his often fighting both by sea and by land divers ways: yet notwithstanding he sayeth, he forgetteth all that is past, and straineth, and enforceth him self still forward, till he may attain too the fellowship of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. For what causeth a number too take so great liberty, but that they think themselves too have done enough, and may give others leave too take their turn? why not, say they? It is now a twenty or thirty years that I have taken extreme pains without ceasing, and the world hath seen my faithfulness, zeal, and care which I have had too serve God, and my diligence in doing the things that my charge required. And thereupon they conclude, that now therefore they may well take rest. We must not so indent with God. But whatsoever we have done, we must forget that which is behind, (sayeth Saint Paul) and look forward to the thing that is yet too come, that is too wit, that we be not yet come to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, but that there are many infirmities in us still, and our faith is not yet so throughly well fined, but that it had need too be brought again too the furnace and the fire. And therefore let us hold out till we have finished all things. And what is meant by this All? that having lived in the obedience of our God, we dye likewise when it pleaseth him, and according too his will. For it is not enough for us too live in awe of him: but we must also even in our death, yield record that we be wholly his, and we must not covet too live here until we be weary of our life, but we must always have one foot lifted up too depart when it pleaseth God.

should our fayth which is much more excellent, bee kept from comming too his purenesse and perfection? ⟨image 347⟩