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…

Furthermore, let it also make us too despise the world, that we may content our selves with the hope of the everlasting life which is purchased for us by our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know that although men be generally subject too many afflictions, and that this life of ours be not without cause termed a vale of wretchedness: yet god exerciseth his own children with greater abundance of adversities, than he doth the other sort: for they also have need too be always put in mind to renounce the world. If we should live here to much at our •ase and pleasure, what would become of us, seeing we miss not too fall a sleep here, notwithstanding that God do prick us and quicken us up so many ways, to pass hence in post without •esting here below? ye see then in few words, how God will exercise us many ways after he hath called us too the faith of the Gospel, for else we would be weary of serving him, and it would seem too us that his love were but a very slender thing, if we should not learn to give over all other things as little or nothing worth, and too embrace Jesus Christ. Therefore let us learn that S. Pauls intent here, is too draw us in such wise unto God, as nothing may let us too walk in our calling: and that if we have not all things to our liking in this world, we may learn too esteem the inestimable benefits of our God better than we have done, that we may say with David (as he speaketh in his sixteenth Psalm) I have mine heritage, which sufficeth me: seeing that God hath given himself too me, I have so excellent a portion,¹ that I pass not for going through all the afflictions of the world, Poverty, sickness, reproach, fear, & threatenings, all ⟨p. 50⟩these things shall be sweet too me, so I possess my God, and he make me to feel that he hath chosen me, and reserved me too himself, and is minded too have me partaker of all his goods. Thus you see in effect, that by this text we may be heartened and strengthened unto patience, too bear mildly all the afflictions and adversities of the world, and not too be grieved or out of conceit:

Furthermore, let it also make vs too despyze the world, that wee may content our selues with the hope of the euerlasting lyfe which is purchased for vs by our Lord Iesus Christ. For wee knowe that although men bee generally subiect too many afflictions, and that this lyfe of ours bee notwithout cause termed a vale of wretchednesse: yit god exercizeth his owne childrē with greater abundāce of aduersities, than he dooth the other sorte: for they also haue neede too bee alwayes put in mind to renounce the world. If wee should liue heere to much at our ase and pleasure, what woold become of vs, seeing wee misse not too fall a sleepe heere, notwithstanding that God doo pricke vs and quicken vs vp so many wayes, to passe hence in poste without esting heere bylowe? yee see then in fewe woordes, howe God will exercyze vs many wayes after he hath called vs too the fayth of the Gospell, for else wee would bee weery of seruing him, and it would seeme too vs that his loue were but a very slender thing, if wee should not learne to giue ouer all other things as little or nothing woorth, and too imbrace Iesus Christ. Therefore let vs learne that S. Paules intent heere, is too drawe vs in such wyse vntoo God, as nothing may let vs too walke in our calling: and that if wee haue not all thinges to our lyking in this world, wee may lerne too esteeme the inestimable benyfites of our God better than wee haue doone, that wee may say with Dauid (as he speaketh in his sixtenth Psalme) I haue myne heritage, which suffizeth me: seeing that God hath giuen himself too mee, I haue so excellent a portion,