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 we must call to mind what S. Paul told us this morning: ⟨p. 139⟩namely, that in praying unto God, we must not be given too our worldly affections, but seek that God may be glorified, and that the residue may be but as an appurtenance too it. That is the cause why he spake purposely of the inward man. For if God should give us the bridle too ask whatsoever came in our head, or if we on our side should take such liberty: what a thing were it? If he should give us all our own asking, it would turn to our ruin and confusion. For we have our lusts further out of square, than little children or sick folks. And all of us generally do by experience find in our selves, that we be fast settled here below, and would fain be held continually in this world: we hang our heads grovelling downward, and cannot lift them up. So much the more therefore doth it stand us on hand, to mark well the thing that S. Paul showeth us in this sentence: namely that we ought too pray God to renew us, and too strengthen us by his holy spirit, and too increase his gifts in us more and more, that in passing through this world, we may always aim at that mark, and be here but as wayfarers, too the end that our Lord may avow us for his children, and the heritage be kept for us, which he hath promised us, and bought so dearly for us by the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And wee must call to mynd what S. Paule told vs this morning: ⟨p. 139⟩namely, that in praying vntoo God, wee must not bee giuen too our wordly affections, but seeke that God may bee glorified, and that the residue may bee but as an appurtenaunce too it. That is the cause why he spake purposely of the inward man. For if God should giue vs the brydle too aske whatsoeuer came in our head, or if wee on our side should take such libertie: what a thing were it? If he should giue vs al our owne asking, it would turne to our ruine and confuzion. For we haue our lusts further out of square, than litle children or sick folks. And all of vs generally doo by experyence find in our selues, that wee bee fast settled heere bylowe, and would fayne bee hild continually in this world: wee hang our heads groueling downeward, and cannot lift them vp. So much the more therefore doth it stand vs on hand, to mark wel the thing that S. Paule sheweth vs in this sentence: namely that wee ought too pray God to renew vs, and too strengthen vs by his holy spirit, and too increace his giftes in vs more and more, that in passing through this world, we may alwayes ame at that mark, and bee heere but as wayfarers, too the end that our Lord may auowe vs for his children, and the heritage be kept for vs, which he hath promised vs, and bought so deerely for vs by the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ.