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…

Thereupon he addeth, that it behoveth us all too be builded, and too grow into a spiritual building, even too God, and in the spirit. First, whereas he sayeth, that we must be builded: it is to stir us up so much the better to grow daily more and more in faith. He useth also the word Grow: and he meaneth in effect two things. The one is, that we must not think our selves too be so perfect as need were that we should be, as some fantastical heads d•o, whom ye shall see so puffed up with overweening, that they imagine themselves too be wise enough, and disdain too look upon Gods word, or too give ear unto it to be taught by it. But woe worth such pride: for we cannot be disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, but by knowing that it behoveth us too be grounded in him, and too profit in him all the time of our life.¹ For Gods word is of such height, breadth, and length, that if a man should forbear eating, drinking, and sleeping, and busy himself all wholly about that: yet should he never know all. So then we ought too travel in it all our life long, knowing that God intendeth as now but only to set us in the way, and that we must go forward by little and little, and be hi•d continually in humbleness and modesty.

Theruppon he addeth, that it behoueth vs all too bee buylded, and too growe intoo a spirituall building, euen too God, and in the spirit. First, whereas he sayeth, that wee must bee builded: it is to stirre vs vp so much the better to growe dayly more and more in faith. He vseth also the word Growe: and he meaneth in effect twoo things. The one is, that wee must not thinke our selues too bee so perfect as neede were that wee should bee, as some fantasticall heads d•o, whom yee shall see so puffed vp with ouerweening, that they imagine themselues too be wize ynough, and disdeyne too looke vppon Gods word, or too giue eare vntoo it to be taught by it. But wo worth such pryde: for wee cannot bee disciples of our Lord Iesus Christ, but by knowing that it behoueth vs too bee grounded in him, and too profite in him al the tyme of our life.¹ For Gods word is of such height, bredth, and length, that if a man should forbeare eating, drinking, and sleeping, and buzie himselfe all wholly about that: yit should he neuer knowe all. So then wee ought too trauell in it al our life long, knowing that God intendeth as now but onely to set vs in the way, and that wee must go foreward by little and little, and bee hid continually in humblenesse and modestie.