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 when he hath given us utterance, he must also make it effectual,¹ according as it is said, that he which planteth is nothing, and he that watereth is nothing, but it is God that giveth the increase. Seeing it is so: Let such as have the charge of teaching Gods Church walk fearfully & carefully, & not only endeavour to win men unto God, […] also humbly acknowledge that they can do nothing of themselves, and that they should but cast forth a sound into the air, which would vanish away out of hand, if God wrought not with them by the secrete power of his spirit. That therefore is the thing that we have too remember upon the words that S. Paul speaketh here.

and when he hath giuen vs vtterance, he must also make it effectuall,¹ according as it is sayd, that he which planteth is nothing, and he that watereth is nothing, but it is God that giueth the increase. Seing it is so: Let such as haue the charge of teaching Gods Church walke fearfully & carefully, & not onely indeuer to win men vnto God, 〈…〉 also humbly acknowledge that they can doo nothing of themselues, and that they should but cast foorth a sounde intoo the aire, which would vanishe away out of hand, if God wrought not with them by the secrete power of his spirit. That therefore is the thing that wee haue too remember vppon the woords that S. Paule speaketh heere.

1. 11. Cor. 3. b. 7.

But every of us also ought too apply it generally too his own use. Therefore when we come too be taught Gods word, or when any of us readeth it alone by himself: let us not imagine our wits too be subtle enough, and that we be able enough too understand whatsoever the scripture telleth us: but let us acknowledge our own beastliness, and pray God too make his doctrine too prevail in such wise with us, as it may not slip from us. But this thing will be perceived the better by the process that S. Paul holdeth on here, if we weigh well all the words that he useth. He sayeth that he yieldeth thanks unto God without end or ceasing, for the faith which he heard to be in the Church of Ephesus, And for their love towards the Saints: & yet notwithstanding he continueth his praying unto God, that he should enlighten them more and more, and bring them too the perfection which all the faithful ought too labour too attain unto, till God have taken them out of this world. Now, in that he saith that he ceaseth