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…

Now then, this vice of recklessness and coldness in that we never pray unto God, but when we be compelled or constrained, had need to be corrected. Saint Paul therefore telleth us, that we must not tarry till utter necessity enforce us, but we must understand, that all times are seasonable and convenient too resort unto God. In deed after as we be picked forward, so must we run the swiftlyer, according as it is certain that we be as it were spurted by the afflictions and manifold troubles that God sendeth us. And like as if an Ass ⟨image 354⟩will not go, he must have a good cudgel laid upon his back: even so God perceiving that we come not too him with a good will, is fain too draw us too him as it were by violence. But yet must every man cheer up him self, though no urgent necessity compel him. Too be short, we must pray unto our God both in time of prosperity, and in time of adversity. That is the thing which is meant by these words, at all times.

Now then, this vyce of rechlesnesse and coldnesse in that wee neuer pray vnto God, but when we be compelled or constreyned, had neede to be corrected. Saint Paule therefore telleth vs, that wee must not tarie till vtter necessitie inforce vs, but we must vnderstand, that al times are seasonable and conuenient too resort vntoo God. Iu deede after as wee bee picked foreward, so must wee runne the swiftlyer, according as it is certeyne that wee bee as it were spurted by the afflictions and manifold trubbles that God sendeth vs. And lyke as if an Asse ⟨image 354⟩wil not go, he must haue a good cudgell layd vppon his backe: euen so God perceyuig that wee come not too him with a good will, is fayne too drawe vs too him as it were by violence. But yit must euery man cheere vp him self, though no vrgent necessitie compell him. Too bee short, we must pray vntoo our God bothe in tyme of prosperitie, and in tyme of aduersitie. That is the thing which is ment by these woords, at all tymes.

And thereupon S. Paul sayeth, that we must be watchful in it, even with all instance, too pray for all the Saints. In saying that we must be watchful, he toucheth a vice whereto we be too much inclined, yea and wholly given over: that is too say, that we be sleepy when we should pray unto God, and had need too be waked. Because of our heaviness and sluggishness, we be commanded too wake and to keep as it were a continual wacth, to the end we should not let occasions slip, but always resort unto God with prayer. Now there is not so perfect a man, which findeth not this malady by experience in him self: namely that when we should pray unto God, a number of things cross us, that set us wandering abroad: insomuch as we shall wonder, that in stead of holding out earnestly, our mind shall be roving here and there. Seeing then that we be so fickle, and our wits so skittish, and is hard too hold us ast any while: it standeth us on hand to be the more watchful, to the intent to bring our selves back again into the good way, when we be started out of it. And let us not tarry till the devil have won so much at our hands, as to pluck us quite from our prayers and supplications, and to break of the continual course of them, and of the steadfastness that ought too be in them: but when we pray, let us be as it were locked up and fast tied too it, that is too say, let all our wits be full bent and settled upon the thing that we have too do. For even the heathen men, when they were about too make sacrifice too their Idols, used this proveth among them: while thou worshippest God, do nothing else, but be thou so wholly occupied and fastened thereunto, as thou think upon no other thing. If God wrested such a confession from them, what ought we to do when we offer him the chief sacrifice which he alloweth above all other, that is, when we confess our selves beholden too him for all good things? Should we mingle our own vanities with it, and make our prayer too be but for custom and fashions sake? Now then this watchfulness whereof