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 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 ⟨p. 336⟩Saint Paul speaketh, is very requisite, by reason of the frailness of our wits, and specially because we be so wandering as is horrible. Seeing it is so with us:

And theruppon S. Paule sayeth, that wee must bee watchfull in it, euen with all instance, too pray for all the Saints. In saying that wee must bee watchfull, hee toucheth a vyce whertoo wee bee too much inclyned, yea and wholly giuen ouer: that is too say, that wee bee sleepie when wee should pray vntoo God, and had neede too bee waked. Bycause of our heauinesse and sluggishnesse, wee bee commaunded too wake and to keepe as it were a continuall wacth, to the end wee should not let occasions slip, but alwayes resort vntoo God with prayer. Now there is not so perfect a man, which fyndeth not this maladie by experience in him self: namely that when wee should pray vnto God, a number of things crosse vs, that set vs wandering abrode: insomuch as wee shall woonder, that in sted of holding out earnestly, our mynd shalbee rouing here and there. Seeing then that wee bee so fickle, and our wits so skittish, and is hard too hold vs ast any whyle: it standeth vs on hand to be the more watchfull, to the intent to bring our selues back agein intoo the good way, when we be started out of it. And let vs not tarie till the diuell haue woone so much at our handes, as to plucke vs quyte from our prayers and supplications, and to breake of the continuall course of them, and of the stedfastnes that ought too bee in them: but when wee pray, let vs be as it were locked vp and fast tyed too it, that is too say, let all our wittes bee full bent and settled vppon the thing that wee haue too doo. For euen the heathen men, when they were about too make sacrifyze too their Idolls, vsed this proueth among them: whyle thou woorshippest God, doo nothing else, but bee thou so wholly occupyed and fastened theruntoo, as thou think vpon no other thing. If God wrested such a confession from them, what ought wee to doo when wee offer him the cheef sacrifyze which he alloweth aboue all other, that is, when wee confesse our selues beholden too him for all good things? Should wee mingle our owne vanities with it, and make our prayer too bee but for custome and fashyons sake? Now then this watchfulnesse wherof