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 it is certain, that in respect of the frailty of the flesh, they should quail by and by. But that they get the upper hand, let us mark, that it is Gods doing, who worketh after so manifest a fashion, as we have cause too glorify him for it. Now if when we be troubled, we be tempted too shrink, and too give over at every brunt that is put too us: it is a token that we have not the skill too profit our ⟨p. 132⟩selves by the means that God giveth us, too draw us to him, and to make us stick too him with true steadfastness. Therefore let us fight against our own weakness, and against the naughtiness of our nature, that when we see how the devil practiseth too overthrow the Gospel in manner every where, we may consider, that God forgetteth not those that are his, but strengtheneth them in such wise with his power, that their faith getteth the upper hand, to the end that we should hope for the like, and that when we be at ease and rest, we should not cease too prepare our selves after their example, that when it shall please God too reach out his hand upon us, and too make us take our turn and course, we may be fenced a long while aforehand, and not be possessed with such imagination as some be, which bear themselves on hand, that they shall never feel any grief or trouble: but that we may always be ready armed to fight. Herewithal S. Paul showeth, that it is not enough for us to be only taught: for we should not cease for all that, to be always fretting, and to be as men more than half out of their wits, until God made his doctrine too take such place, as we were touched too the quick with it.

For it is certeine, that in respect of the frayltie of the fleshe, they shoulde quayle by and by. But that they get the vpper hand, let vs mark, that it is Gods dooing, who woorketh after so manifest a fashion, as wee haue cause too glorifie him for it. Now if when wee bee trubbled, wee bee tempted too shrink, and too giue ouer at euery brunt that is put too vs: it is a token that wee haue not the skill too profit our ⟨p. 132⟩selues by the meanes that God giueth vs, too drawe vs to him, and to make vs sticke too him with trew stedfastnesse. Therfore let vs fyght ageinst our own weaknesse, and ageinst the naughtinesse of our nature, that when wee see how the diuell practyzeth too ouerthrowe the Gospell in maner euery where, wee may consider, that God forgetteth not those that are his, but strengtheneth them in such wyze with his power, that their fayth getteth the vpper hand, to the end that we shold hope for the lyke, and that when wee bee at ease and rest, wee should not ceasse too prepare our selues after their example, that when it shall please God too reach out his hand vppon vs, and too make vs take our turne and course, wee may bee fenced a long whyle aforehand, and not bee possessed with such imagination as some bee, which beare themselues on hand, that they shal neuer feele any greefe or trubble: but that wee may alwayes be redy armed to fyght. Herewithal S. Paule sheweth, that it is not ynough for vs to be only taught: for we should not ceasse for all that, to be alwayes fretting, and to be as men more than half out of their wittes, vntill God made his doctrine too take such place, as wee were touched too the quicke with it.