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…

There is yet further, that Saint Paul glorieth of his bearing of the Embassy of the Gospel, notwithstanding that he be a poor prisoner, yea and in chains, as if a man should now set a man in the stocks, or •etter him. Therefore he useth the word Ambassador, too the intent that his imprisoning should not prejudice the doctrine of God. No, no (sayeth he) God avoweth me for his Ambassador. Albeit that men hold scorn of me, though I be thus afflicted, and although men might loth me too look upon me: yet is all this no derogation too the office wherein God hath put me, that is too say, too my Ambassadorship of preaching the Gospel in his name. And it is not only in this text that Saint Paul doth so magnify the honourable ⟨image 362⟩dignity that was given unto him, in declaring that men cannot any what diminish it: but (which more is) he glorieth greatly in that he was held so in iron chains and straight prison. For surely it served for a good record that he had preached earnestly, and that men ought to receive his doctrine quietly & without gainsaying. True it is, that if we go through with our charge, & follow Gods calling with a free hart, we shall be his servants. But yet for all that, there is not so good proof of us as when God sendeth some trial, so as we be one while in prison, another while driven from place too place, and troubled and vexed divers ways. If we see that, and again, that we be wrongfully blamed, and torn in pieces, and yet nevertheless do hold out still, without swerving one way or other for any thing that may befall: then doth God ratify and authentically seal our Calling, and show that he hath made us his servants. Now then seeing that Saint Paul was in prison, and moved too deny him self, and could have gone out if he had would, by forsaking the truth of the Gospel, and yet held out steadfastly, so as his life was nothing too him, but his continual seeking was too magnify the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: when such Constancy was seen in Saint Paul, it might well be concluded, that there had bin no counterfeiting in him before. For when a man shall but only preach, and afterward when he cometh but to the aching of the tip of his finger, he starteth back, and would pluck his penny from the stake (as they say:) doth not the world see that he was but a niggler, and a player of interludes before?

There is yit further, that Saint Paule gloryeth of his bearing of the Ambassage of the Gospell, notwithstanding that he bee a poore prisoner, yea and in cheynes, as if a man should now set a man in the stocks, or etter him. Therfore he vseth the woord Ambashadour, too the intent that his imprizoning should not preiudice the doctrine of God. No, no (sayeth he) God auoweth mee for his Ambassadour. Albeeit that men hold scorne of mee, though I bee thus afflicted, and although men myght lothe mee too looke vppon mee: yit is all this no derogation too the office wherin God hath put mee, that is too say, too my Ambassadourship of preaching the Gospell in his name. And it is not only in this text that Saint Paule dooth so magnfye the honorable