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 thereby we have warning to pray God to increase & strengthen our faith, and to inflame us with charity, and therewithal to make us know our imperfections, so as although we see a number that come not near us, yet we conceive not any pride too stand in our own conceits, as though we were come too faith already. Wherefore let us assure our selves, that we be but in our way as long as we be in this world, and therefore let us enforce our selves forward. For what perfection of faith so ever we can find among men: it is certain that God will find much amiss in it, and how far forward soever we be, and how well so ever we have profited in charity, a man shall come far short, of finding that any of us hath forgotten him self, and thrust covetousness and ambition under foot, with all other things that may […] us from seeking the benefit of our neighbour, and the employing of our selves too do them seruis. Sith it is so, let us learn (as I said) too know our own imperfections in such wise, as we may mislike of our selves for them, and be induced thereby too do better than we have done hitherto. And although men praise and commend us, yet let us learn too confess with all humbleness and meekness, that we be yet far short of attaining too our mark.

And therby we haue warning to pray God to increase & strengthen our fayth, and to inflame vs with charitie, and therwithall to make vs knowe our imperfections, so as although wee see a number that come not neere vs, yit wee conceyue not any pryde too stand in our owne conceits, as though wee were come too fayth already. Wherefore let vs assure our selues, that we be but in our way as long as we bee in this worlde, and therefore let vs inforce our selues foreward. For what perfection of fayth so euer wee can fynd among men: it is certeyne that God will fynd much amisse in it, and how farre foreward soeuer wee bee, and how well so euer wee haue profited in charitie, a man shall come farre short, of fynding that any of vs hath forgotten him self, and thrust couetousnesse and ambition vnder foote, with all other things that may 〈…〉 vs frō seeking the benefyte of our neyghbour, and the imploying of our selues too doo them seruis. Sith it is so, let vs learne (as I sayd) too knowe our owne imperfections in such wyse, as wee may mislyke of our selues for them, and bee induced therby too doo better than wee haue done hithertoo. And although men prayse and commend vs, yit let vs learne too confesse with all humblenesse and meeknesse, that wee bee yit farre short of atteyning too our mark.