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 now he warranteth all the said doctrine by the record which it yieldeth unto God, in that it doth even then magnify his goodness, when he is as it were separated from mans eye, and from the sight of all witnesses. Truly the doctrine of the Gospel ought not too be the less esteemed when it is preached and published in the open face of the whole world: but yet it behoveth him that speaketh it too have it throughly printed in his hart, & to say the same thing in himself before God and his Angels, which he speaketh before men: for otherwise it were but a jangling, or rather an unhallowing of Gods word: if a man should step up into the pulpit too talk like an Angel, and in the mean while have no such meaning in his hart, nor be persuaded of the thing that he speaketh. It were better that a man were drowned a hundred times, than too bear abroad the most excellent record of salvation & of Gods truth: and in the mean season not too be persuaded in himself of the thing that he preacheth, so as God and his Angels might know that he hath the same thing printed in his heart. Therefore it is not without cause, that after S. Paul hath preached Gods free goodness in choosing whom he liked, and in calling them too the knowledge of his Gospel when he had chosen them, & in confirming them with his strong hand, and by giving them invincible constancy and steadfastness when he had called them: now he addeth that ⟨p. 38⟩God knoweth his witnessing thereof too be in good earnest and unfeignedly. For he protesteth here concerning the prayers which he maketh alone by himself, when no man could know his thought nor what he sayeth and uttereth with his mouth: that even then he avoweth the same doctrine before God, inasmuch as he prayeth him to vouchsafe too accomplish the thing that he hath begun. Here therefore we have too mark first of all, that such as mind too have their labour profitable too the edifying of the Church, and such as have any true zeal, must not only give themselves too teaching, but also therewithal pray God too work with them by his power and grace. For oftentimes •t befalleth, that we do but beat the water, (yea though we have •he tongues of Angels) because we pray not God to further the doctrine that we preach. For of our selves we be but unprofitable instruments:

And nowe he warranteth all the sayd doctrine by the recorde which it yeeldeth vnto God, in that it doth euen then magnifie his goodnesse, when he is as it were separated from mannes eye, and from the sight of all witnesses. Trewly the doctrine of the Gospel oughte not too bee the lesse esteemed when it is preached and published in the open face of the whole woorld: but yit it behoueth him that speaketh it too haue it throughly printed in his hart, & to say the same thing in himselfe before God and his Angels, which he speaketh before mē: for otherwise it were but a iangling, or rather an vnhalowing of Gods word: if a mā should step vp intoo the pulpet too talke lyke an Angell, and in the meane while haue no such meaning in his hart, nor bee perswaded of the thing that he speaketh. It were better that a man were drowned a hundred times, than too beare abrode the most excellent record of saluation & of Gods truthe: and in the meane season not too bee perswaded in himselfe of the thing that he preacheth, so as God and his Angells might knowe that he hath the same thing printed in his harte. Therefore it is not without cause, that after S. Paule hath preached Gods free goodnesse in choozing whom he lyked, and in calling them too the knowledge of his Gospell when he had chozen them, & in confirming them with his strong hand, and by giuing thē inuincible constancie and stedfastnesse whē he had called them: nowe he addeth that