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…

For if I stay upon the things I have done already, saying, I have overcome so many encounters, I have dealt thus valiantly, I have not ceased too preach the Gospel every where, I have wrought in such wise, that the fruit of my doctrine is come to the whole world, I have passed the sea, I have bin among barbarous nations, where God and his Gospel were never erst heard of, I have had a number of lets, and have overcome them all, I have encountered with thus many enemies, and have got ⟨p. 72⟩the upper hand of them all: If S. Paul say, I had had all these considerations with him, he had become cold: for it is an easy matter with us too shrink away when we once think with our selves, […], I have done enough for my part, now let others march on in their array. And so every of us would take his leave, when he had some thing or other, I •ot not what. But S. Paul saith, that he forgets the time past, too the intent too cut of occasion of slothfulness, which might come in his head, and sayeth, that he straineth him self forward, and holdeth his arms open too attain unto it. And how long time did S. Paul strain himself forward? Even too the end. Then let us mark well, that our glory shall never be perfect, that is too say, we shall never throughly enjoy the glory that we wait for, until the end. And therefore it behoveth us always too take warning of our own wretchedness, too mourn for it before God, and too confess that we be beholden too his only goodness for all things. Now then, howsoever we fare, we see that we be reformed unto newness of life by Gods spirit: and that although we dwell among unbelievers, & be subject too many miseries, yea and have sin dwelling in us: yet there is none of us but he feeleth that the handsels which God hath given us of his holy spirit, are not vain nor unprofitable. If any man allege, that before such time as Jesus Christ work in us, we have already some life, as is seen: answer was made shortly this morning: that forasmuch as all that ever men have by nature, is not able too bring them unto God, but maketh them too rest upon this world: none of it ought too be made account of, when the heavenly life cometh in question. Then let men clap their hands at us on all sides:

For if I stay vppon the things I haue done alredy, saying, I haue ouercome so many incounters, I haue delt thus valeantly, I haue not ceassed too preach the Gospell euery where, I haue wrought in such wyse, that the frute of my doct•ine is come to the whole world, I haue passed the sea, I haue bin among barbarus nations, where God and his Gospel were neuer erst heard of, I haue had a number of lets, and haue ouercome them all, I haue incountered with thus manie enemyes, and haue got