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 herein we comprehend holding out or continuance: so as it is not enough for us too pray unto God by starts and braids (as they say:) but we must continue in it, and that two ways. For first when we have prayed too day both evening and morning, and every hour: we must hold on still, and never swerve from that trade, so long as we live. For our faith (as I said) must exercise it self: and the mean too exercise it withal is this, There is yet one other manner of perseverance or holding out: which is, that when we have desired ⟨image 355⟩God too help us in this or that, we must repeat the same request, not twice or thrice only,¹ but as oft as we have need, a hundred, yea a thousand times. As for example, Although God have told us that he will succour us before we open our mouth too him: yet doth he not show it (always) openly too the eye. Therefore we must never be weary in waiting for Gods help. Also it is not good that we should be heard after our own liking, because God knoweth what is meet and expedient for us. So then, he must govern us according too his own will. But (as I said) if we pray too him after his fashion and after his manner: he protesteth that we shall obtain all our requests at his hand, even before we have uttered them with our mouth. Yet notwithstanding he will sometimes hold us as it were at the staves end, in so much as it shall seem that he is asleep when we call upon him, and that he hath turned his back upon us. For this cause is perseverance requisite, so that if we be pinched with any distress, and would fain seek ease of it at Gods hand: we must not do it once and away, but we must return too it (oftentimes,) and be (as ye would say) importunate,² according too the similitude which our Lord Jesus telleth us of the widow, which had too do with a Judge that was without any fear of God, or shame of the world, and yet nevertheless she obtained her suit even by importunateness. So must we do: that is too say, we must be importunate upon our God: not that he is slow in succouring us (as I said afore:) but because he will try the constancy of our faith. For they that pray unto God and fall to stomacking, chafing, and impatience, if he relieve them not out of hand: do not pray unto him, but (as ye would say) summon him too be at commandment of their lusts.