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…

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 ⟨image 55⟩not to give thanks unto God, we see by his example whereabouts the faithful ought too spend their time. For in very deed the chief sacrifice that God requireth and alloweth, is that we should honour him for all his benefits, and yield him his deserved praise for the same. And it is not too be thought that that can be done (as ye would say) by starts or by patches: but like as God on his side ceaseth not too pour out his benefits infinitely, so also behoveth it every of us too enforce ourselves, too bless and praise him without ceasing. For S. Paul speaks here unfeignedly: and when he blessed God for the Ephesians, he meant as much for all other Churches. What an unkindness then were it, if a man should not think at all upon the benefits that he hath received at Gods hand? We are all of us bound too praise God for our neighbours. If we hear it reported that God hath prospered his Church, or showed mercy too his people a hundred leagues of, and too be short, if we hear of any thing that ought too make us glad: it becometh our mouths too be open to praise God for it. Now if we be bound too do this for the good turns that we see not, but which our neighbours feel, though they be distant in far Countries from us:

But euerye of vs also ought too apply it generally too his owne vse. Therfore when wee come too bee taught Gods woord, or when any of vs readeth it alone by himselfe: let vs not imagin our witts too bee suttle ynough, and that wee bee able ynough too vnderstand whatsoeuer the scripture telleth vs: but let vs acknoweledge our own beastlinesse, and praye God too make his doctrine too preuaile in such wyse with vs, as it may not slip frō vs. But this thing will be perceyued the better by the processe that S. Paule holdeth on heere, if wee wey well all the woords that he vseth. He sayeth that he yeeldeth thanks vnto God without end or ceassing, for the fayth which he hearde to bee in the Church of Ephesus, And for their loue towards the Saints: & yit notwithstanding he continueth his praying vntoo God, that he should inlighten them more and more, and bring them too the perfection which all the faythfull ought too labour too attayne vntoo, till God haue taken them out of this world. Now, in that he sayth that he ceaseth