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…

Howbeit Saint Paul speaketh here expressly of the Saints or faithful, but yet is that no impediment that we should not pray generally for all men. For the wretched unbelievers and the ignorant sort have great need too be sewed for unto God: for behold, they be in the high way too destruction. If we saw a beast at the point to perish, we would have pity of it: and what shall we do when we see a soul in peril, which is so precious before God as he hath showed, in that he hath ransomed them with the blood of his own Son? Then if we see a poor soul go so too destruction, ought we not too be moved with compassion and kindness, too desire God too remedy it? So then Saint Pauls meaning in this text, is not that we should let the wretched unbelievers alone without care of them: but that we should pray generally for all men: howbeit he showeth us therewithal, that we must have a special care of those whom God hath knit unto us by a straiter bond. Likewise when he speaketh of Almsdeeds,¹ his intent is that they should be done too all men ⟨image 356⟩without exception which have need: but yet he addeth, that we must specially succour them that are of the household of faith. Even so is it with our prayers and supplications. For the spiritual brotherhood which God hath set among us, ought too touch us the more, and too make the Church of God too come before our eyes, and into our remembrance as oft as we pray. And these words, Our Father, ought too teach us too make our prayers common. For none of us can say My father, alone of himself, but we call him Ours, too show that we ought not to have such care of our selves, as to forget them that belong unto us, and are linked to us with so near a knot, as I have declared already. That then is the cause why S. Paul sayeth expressly, that we must pray for the Saints.

Howbeeit Saint Paule speaketh heere expresly of the Saintes or faythfull, but yit is that no impediment that wee should not pray generally for all men. For the wretched vnbeleeuers and the ignorant sort haue greate neede too bee sewed for vntoo God: for behold, they bee in the hygh way too destruction. If wee sawe a beast at the poynt to perish, we would haue pitie of it: and what shal we do when we see a soule in perill, which is so precious before God as he hath shewed, in that he hath raunsomed them with the blud of his owne sonne? Then if wee see a poore soule go so too destruction, ought wee not too bee moued with compassion and kyndnesse, too desyre God too remedye it? So then Saint Paules meaning in this text, is not that wee should let the wretched vnbeleeuers alone without care of them: but that wee should pray generally for all men: howbeeit he sheweth vs therewithall, that wee must haue a speciall care of those whom God hath knit vntoo vs by a streyter bond. Lykewyse when he speaketh of Almesedeedes,