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…

We saw this morning how we ought too be careful in praying one for anther, and the fruit that cometh thereof: namely that every man which is a member of the Son of God, must assure him self, that the whole Church laboureth for him, and that generally both Jesus Christ and all his must be refused, if God pity us not. But heerewithal we have to mark also, that Saint Paul in commending himself too the prayers of the Church, is not so mindful of his body, as of the thing that is much excellenter, that is too wit, of the due executing of the charge and office committed unto him. If a man be sick, or in necessity in this world, or troubled by his enemies, we be wont too cry out for help and succour, and we would have every man too occupy himself for us. And why? For inasmuch as we be fleshly: as soon as we feel any disease in our body, we be sorry at the heart: but in the mean while we forget the chief point: that is too wit, the things that concern the everlasting salvation of our souls. Again, when it comes too the serving of God, every man thinks he is sufficient enough of himself too do it, without help of his neighbours. But Saint Paul showeth here, that he thinks not himself sufficient too execute the charge that is committed too him of preaching the Gospel, without help from above: and therefore he requireth the prayers of the Church. And afterward he showeth therewithal, that he maketh more account thereof, than of his life, notwithstanding that he were held as then in prison, yea and even chained. Ye see here that Saint Paul is held in straight ward, as a sorry offender, and looketh daily for nothing but death: and yet for all that, he careth not so much for his life, as for the advancement and preferment of Gods word: insomuch that he had lever dye, ⟨p. 341⟩than too be slothful in doing the thing that was enjoined him. That is the effect of the thing which we have too remember upon this text.

WEe sawe this morning how wee ought too bee carefull in praying one for anther, and the frute that commeth thereof: namely that euery man which is a member of the Sonne of God, must assure him selfe, that the whole Church laboreth for him, and that generally both Iesus Christ and all his must bee refuzed, if God pitie vs not. But heerewithal wee haue to marke also, that Saint Paule in commending himselfe too the prayers of the Church, is not so myndfull of his bodye, as of the thing that is much excellenter, that is too wit, of the due executing of the charge and office committed vntoo him. If a man bee sicke, or in necessitye in this world, or trubbled by his enemyes, wee bee woont too crye out for helpe and succour, and wee would haue euery man too occupye himselfe for vs. And why? For inasmuch as wee bee fleshly: as soone as wee feele any disease in our bodye, wee bee sorye at the harte: but in the meane whyle wee forget the cheef poynt: that is too wit, the things that concerne the euerlasting saluation of our soules. Agein, when it comes too the seruing of God, euery man thinkes he is sufficient ynough of himselfe too doo it, without helpe of his neyghbours. But Saint Paule sheweth heere, that he thinkes not himselfe sufficient too execute the charge that is committed too him of preaching the Gospell, without help from aboue: and therefore he requyreth the prayers of the Church. And afterward he sheweth therwithall, that he maketh more account therof, than of his lyfe, notwithstanding that he were hild as then in prizon, yea and euen cheyned. Ye see here that Saint Paule is hild in streyt ward, as a sory offender, and looketh dayly for nothing but death: and yit for all that, he careth not so much for his lyfe, as for the aduauncement and preferment of Gods woorde: insomuch that he had leuer dye,