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 now forasmuch as we have not that of our own power: the holy Ghost must be fain to work therein. And therefore by the word Spirit may be understood, that we should beseech God to govern us in such wise, as he touch us throughly, to the end we may pray to him as we ought too do, and he also accept our prayers, acknowledging in them the marks of his holy spirit. For we must always remember how it is said in the Epistle too the Romans,¹ that we know not what too pray: for as in respect of our selves, it is a thing that surmounteth all our understanding, and the ablest of us all faileth in that behalf, notwithstanding that there are a number which bear themselves on hand that they know perfectly how and what too pray unto God. Howbeit all such opinion doth but shut us out of the gate, unless that upon the knowing of our defaults and infirmities, we resort ryghtfoorth too the remedy,² according too this saying of Saint Pauls, that the spirit of God driveth us to unutterable groanings which cannot be expressed, without the which we could not utter so much as this word Father: ³according also as he sayeth too the Galatians, that when the spirit crieth in us, we can open our mouths too call freely upon God,⁴ as is rehearsed in another place. Now then, it is certain that we shall never be throughly disposed too pray unto God, except he govern us by his holy spirit.

And now forasmuch as we haue not that of our owne power: the holy Ghost must be fayne to worke therin. And therfore by the word Spirit may be vnderstood, that we should beseech God to gouern vs in such wyse, as he touch vs throughly, to the end we may pray to him as we ought too doo, and he also accept our prayers, acknowleding in them the marks of his holie spirit. For wee must alwayes remember how it is sayd in the Epistle too the Romans,¹ that wee know not what too pray: for as in respect of our selues, it is a thing that surmounteth all our vnderstanding, and the ablest of vs all fayleth in that behalfe, notwithstanding that there are a number which beare themselues on hand that they knowe perfectly howe and what too pray vntoo God. Howbeeit all such opinion dooth but shet vs out of the gate, vnlesse that vppon the knowing of our defaults and infirmities, wee resort ryghtfoorth too the remedie,