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…

But it behoveth us too restrain all our passions and desires too Gods good will, so as when we pray him too make speed, we may nevertheless be patient, and be contented too tarry his leisure, in delaying too day or too morrow, or as long as it pleaseth him. Ye see then that we must continue in prayer and supplication, so as we must pray presently for the necessities that pinch us too day, and likewise too morrow, for those that may come then: and so we must pray ordinarily every day. And besides this, if God list not too deliver us so soon as we fain would: let us not cease to renew our petitions still, even until we perceive that we have profited by our praying, and that he have showed us the effect of his promise.

But it behoueth vs too restreyne all our passions and desyres too Gods good will, so as when wee pray him too make speede, wee may neuerthelesse bee pacient, and bee contented too tary his leazure, in delaying too day or too morrowe, or as long as it pleaseth him. Yee see then that wee must continue in prayer and supplication, so as wee must pray presently for the necessities that pinch vs too day, and lykewyse too morrow, for those that may come then: and so wee must pray ordinarily euery day. And besydes this, if God list not too deliuer vs so soone as wee fayne would: let vs not ceasse to renew our petitions still, euen vntill wee perceiue that wee haue profited by our praying, and that he haue shewed vs the effect of his promis.

Now forasmuch as it is hard for us too be brought too pray well unto God: Saint Paul here setteth us forth the thing out of our own persons, which ought too persuade us: that is too say, that we be bound too pray unto God, not only for our selves, that is too say, every man for himself: but also too have a care of our neighbours, and to respect them also. It is true that if we considered our own miseries well, and the great number of sins that are in us, and the great need which we have to be succoured at Gods hand: we should have cause enough without going out of our selves, too employ our selves in prayer and supplication, yea though we did nothing else all our life long but sigh and lament before God for our offences, and pray him to reach us his hand, too the end that Satan might not overcome us. As I said, we should have matter enough in our selves. But now that we must extend our prayers further, that is too wit, too the whole Church of God, and understand that he will not have me too think only upon my self, but also too be mindful of all his chosen, inasmuch as he hath knit me too them, so as I must endeavour too comprehend them in my prayers as much as is possible for me: seeing (say I) that we be resolved hereof: it must needs be that we be too blockish, if we be not touched yet more to the quick, and set on fire with this carefulness that is spoken of here, and therewithal continue in the same.