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…

But if we will make advocates at our own pleasure, and upon our own head (in heaven:) it is all one as if we would rob God of his authority and sovereignty. Yea, and we must bethink us how S. Paul sayeth, that all our prayers and supplications, shall never be aught worth, but utterly unprofitable and vain, if they be not conformable to Gods word, so as we take our rule from thence. For how shall we call upon a God (sayeth he) whom we know not, at all adventure? And how shall we know after what manner we should pray, and what style and speech we should use?¹ We must come too hearing, not of the things that men shall bring us of their own brain, but of the things that God commandeth us. So then, we must use this modesty and sobriety, and not speak at random when we pray unto God, but simply obey his word. Yea and we know that prayer is the chief sacrifice that God requireth. For whereas it is said, that we must worship the only one God:² it is not only with ceremonies, as with kneeling down before him. In deed that is requisite: for it is meet that we should honour our God both with our body and with our mind, because they be both his. Howbeit in worshipping him, we must acknowledge truly that we hold all good things of him: and that do we in praying too him. For we come thither as poor souls utterly destitute of all things that are meet for us, knowing that without him we be worse than miserable. It is said in the law, that in offering sacrifice too God, men must not do any thing at all of their own head, but follow his ordinance, insomuch that it was forbidden them too take strange fire too use upon the altar: whereby it was meant in a figure,³ that men should utterly forbear all their own devotions, when they intend too offer any thing unto God. Likewise they were forbidden too offer sacrifice without salt,⁴ thereby too show that we ought too have a sure instruction, so as all the offerings which we offer up too God, be sauced or powdered with his word: for without that, there will be neither taste nor savour in them. But seeing that we now adays have the substance and truth of the figures of the Law: whensoever we offer our prayers and supplications unto God, or yield him praise and thanks, let us do all by our Lord Jesus Christ,