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…

Now then, having exhorted the Ephesians, he sayeth, I bow my knees before the father of our Lord Jesus Christ. If exhorting too the end that every man might be of courage, had bin enough: S. Paul would not have added that which he speaketh here of prayer. But to the intent too show what the Ephesians had too do: he falleth into the way before them too give them an example. And therefore let us mark, that when we shall have had our ears beaten with Gods word, to show us our duty, and thereto not only bin instructed, but also exhorted and spurred forward: yet will there always be some sloth, coldness and recklessness in us, so as the doctrine shall stand us in small stead, until God touch us with his holy spirit. And this serveth too beat down all pride in us. For a number think themselves able too work wonders, who feel themselves beguiled, when they come too the pinch. We see what happened too Peter. He promised, yea even unfeignedly,¹ that he would not shrink from his Master, though he should dye for it. Ye see how Peter made a stout brag. Surely he made it not but of a zeal, which a man would say, is good and holy, and he meant too have had the same intent so settled, as too have showed it at the need: and yet notwithstanding, the stout words of a silly wench made him too deny Christ, and he was ready too have denied ⟨image 151⟩him a hundred times, insomuch that he fell to cursing & banning. Seeing we have such a looking glass, let us acknowledge our own weakness in Peters person, and (as S. Paul showeth us here) let us resort too him that hath all power in him. For it is not enough for us too know our disease, unless we seek the remedy of it. First of all then, let us rid our selves of all foolish opinions, wherewith the world is imbrued, as that a man may be able too overcome all temptations by his own free will: and rather let us learn too abase our selves utterly, knowing that when as God is so gracious to us, as too teach us by his word, the same is not too enable us too do it, but only too hold us the more guilty and convicted thereof, too the end we should not make a shield of ignorance. Let that be one point.

Now then, hauing exhorted the Ephesians, he sayeth, I bowe my knees before the father of our Lord Iesus Christ. If exhorting too the end that euery man myght be of courage, had bin ynough: S. Paul would not haue added that which he speaketh heere of prayer. But to the intent too shewe what the Ephesians had too doo: he falleth intoo the way before them too giue them an example. And therfore let vs marke, that when wee shall haue had our eares beaten with Gods woord, to shewe vs our dewtie, and thertoo not only bin instructed, but also exhorted and spurred forward: yit will there alwayes bee some sloth, coldnesse and rechlesnesse in vs, so as the doctrine shal stand vs in smal stead, vntill God touch vs with his holy spirit. And this serueth too beate downe al pryde in vs. For a number thinke themselues able too woork woonders, who feele themselues beguyled, when they come too the pinch. Wee see what happened too Peter. He promised, yea euen vnfeynedly,