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 first of all, whatsoever we ask of God, let us understand that the same must issue unto us from the wellspring of his only mercy and free bounty, too the end we should forget all selfdeseruing. For it is the next way too shut us out of the door, when we come unto God, if we imagine too bring aught of our selves. Mark that for one point. And secondly to amend all distrust, let us hope that God will do more than all our wits can conceive. For it is not in us too measure his infinite power: and therefore whatsoever he hath given us already, let us think •ur selves beholden too his goodness for it, let us do him homage for it, and let us yield him the praise of it, as meet is we should. And so ye see, that the thing which we have too gather upon Saint Pauls example, is, that we must with all humility beseech God too work so in us by his own mere grace, as his name may be glorified thereby, because there is no deserving to be found in us. Also let us be out of doubt, that his power passeth all our capacity, so as we may every way give him place and entrance, and not shut him out from us through our unbelief. •nowe we once that? Hath God showed us his mercy and power, and made us too feel them by experience? Let us put them in ure to the uttermost of our power, and let us not seek to deface his glory, under colour that he hath made us more excellent than others, as though we had deserved aught of our selves, but let us yield him his dew, and that which ought too be his peculiar own.

And first of al, whatsoeuer wee aske of God, let vs vnderstand that the same must issew vntoo vs from the welspring of his only mercie and free bountie, too the end wee should forget all selfdeseruing. For it is the next way too shet vs out of the doore, when wee come vntoo God, if wee imagin too bring aught of our selues. Mark that for one poynt. And secondly to amend all distrust, let vs hope that God will doo more than all our wits can conceiue. For it is not in vs too measure his infinite power: and therfore whatsoeuer he hath giuen vs alreadye, let vs think •ur selues beholden too his goodnesse for it, let vs doo him homage for it, and let vs yeeld him the prayse of it, as meete is wee should. And so yee see, that the thing which wee haue too gather vppon Saint Paules example, is, that we must with al humilitie besech God too worke so in vs by his owne mere grace, as his name may bee glorified therby, bicause there is no deseruing to be foūd in vs. Also let vs be out of dout, that his power passeth all our capacitie, so as wee may euery way giue him place and enterance, and not shet him out from vs through our vnbeleef. nowe wee once that? Hath God shewed vs his mercie and power, and made vs too feele them by experience? Let vs put them in vre to the vttermost of our power, and let vs not seeke to deface his glorie, vnder colour that he hath made vs more excellent than others, as though wee had deserued aught of our selues, but let vs yeeld him his dew, and that which ought too bee his peculiar owne.