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…

13. Wherefore I beseech ye faint not for my troubles, which I endure for your sake, which is your glory. 14. For the which thing I bow my knees too the father of our Lord Jesus Christ: 15. (Of whom all kindred is named in heaven and in earth.) 15. That according too the riches of his glory, he grant you too be strengthened with power by his spirit in the inward man.

13. VVherfore I beseech yee faynt not for my trubbles, vvhich I endure for your sake, which is your glory. 14. For the vvhich thing I bovv my knees too the father of our Lord Iesus Christ: 15. (Of vvhom all kinred is named in heauen and in earth.) 15. That according too the riches of his glory, he graunt you too bee strengthened vvith povver by his spirit in the invvarde man.

IT is a wonderful thing that men having so many means too come unto God, labour too go from him as much as is possible, and every straw makes them too turn head: and yet notwithstanding think themselves too have a very reasonable excuse, if they can say, I was letted by this and that (which shall be nothing at all,) but the least occasion that can be, will serve, because their seeking already is too shrink away from God. And this is too common now adays. For they that are desirous too justify themselves, because they reject the doctrine of the Gospel, will always find fault with the causes of offences. O say thy, this troubleth me, this maketh me too mislike the doctrine of the Gospel, this maketh me too forsake it utterly. All that ever they can allege shall be but trifles, but yet had we need too labour so much the more, too overcome all the lets and stops which the devil endeavoureth too cast in our way, so as we may still keep on our trade and course. And that is the thing whereat S. Paul aimeth here, exhorting the Ephesians not too be thrust out of the way, but too hold on still truly and constantly in the faith of the Gospel, notwithstanding ⟨p. 131⟩that they might be offended too see him a prisoner, and as good as condemned already. Now it is certain, that Saint Pauls suffering in maintenance of the things that he had preached, was not too make them swerve from Gods pure truth: but contrariwise he protesteth, that it was too their glory, so as they might triumph aforehand, considering the invincible constancy that was given him. But (as I have said already) besides the thing that I have touched already, there is such a naughtiness rooted in our nature, that we be well apaid, if we can have any outward colour too shrink away from God, and we bear our selves on hand, that we be quite and clean discharged. Howbeit S. Paul spake not this for that one people, but he giveth here an instruction that ought too serve us at this day: which is, that although the most part of the world be mad at the Gospel, and fight as much as they can, too quench the remembrance of our Lord Jesus Christ, and although the faithful be persecuted, defamed and tormented: