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…

When God hath done us never so much good, although we feel our selves beholden unto him, and bound too yield him his dew praise: yet can we not discharge our selves of our duty with a free hart, except we hope that he will hold on still hereafter, and show himself the same too the end, which we have known him too be heretofore. Now, without faith we cannot hope, and so is it unpossible that God should have his dew praise at mens hands. Put the case we had found Gods help at our need, and whatsoever we could wish: and in the mean while we think it was but a sudden braid which is vanished away out of hand, and that henceforth we may look for no more at his hand, and that it shall be in vain for us too require it: it is certain, that we would come no more at him, because we should be pinched and pressed with heaviness and grief. Therefore, that we may hold out in praising Gods name, we must couple these two things together: that is too wit, that on the one side we bethink us of the good that we have received of him, and that on the other side we hope still that he will always be steadfast and constant in his purpose unto the end, and never cease to do us good. And that is the order which S. Paul keepeth here, saying, Praise and glory be yielded unto God. And how? unto him (sayeth he) which is able too do all things, beyond our asking, yea and beyond our thinking too. Now it is certain, that here Saint Paul had an eye back too that which we have seen before, which is, that God did then utter the infinite riches of his goodness, when he vouchsafed too have the Gospel (which is the message of salvation) published throughout the world. Nevertheless, he quickeneth up the faithful, to discharge themselves cheerfully, by telling them that they must not mistrust that God will withdraw his hand, as though his showing of himself liberal towards them, had bin but for once and away. His meaning then is, that God will go through with his work, and therefore that ⟨image 166⟩we may give our selves too the praising of his name without any stop, as well in respect of the good that we have received already, as upon belief that he will hold on without ever failing us. That is the effect of the matter which we have too gather upon this strain.

WHen God hath doone vs neuer so much good, although wee feele our selues beholden vntoo him, and bound too yeelde him his dew praise: yit can wee not discharge our selues of our dewtie with a free hart, except wee hope that he will holde on still hereafter, and shewe himselfe the same too the ende, which wee haue knowen him too bee heretoofore. Now, without fayth we cannot hope, and so is it vnpossible that God should haue his dew praise at mens handes. Put the cace wee had found Gods helpe at our neede, and whatsoeuer wee could wishe: and in the meane whyle wee thinke it was but a sodein brayd which is vanished away out of hand, and that hensfoorth wee may looke for no more at his hand, and that it shalbee in vayne for vs too requyre it: it is certeyne, that wee would come no more at him, bycause wee should bee pinched and pressed with heauinesse and griefe. Therefore, that wee may holde out in praysing Gods name, wee must cupple these twoo things toogither: that is too wit, that on the one syde wee bethinke vs of the good that wee haue receyued of him, and that on the other syde wee hope still that he will alwayes bee stedfast and constant in his purpose vntoo the end, and neuer ceasse to doo vs good. And that is the order which S. Paule keepeth heere, saying, Prayse and glory be yeelded vntoo God. And how? vntoo him (sayeth he) vvhich is able too doo all things, beyond our asking, yea and beyond our thinking too. Now it is certein, that heere Saint Paule had an eye backe too that which wee haue seene before, which is, that God did then vtter the infinite riches of his goodnesse, when he voutsafed too haue the Gospell (which is the message of saluation) published throughout the world. Neuerthelesse, he quickeneth vp the faythful, to discharge themselues cheerefully, by telling them that they must not mistrust that God will withdrawe his hand, as though his shewing of himselfe liberall towardes them, had bin but for once and away. His meaning then is, that God will go through with his woorke, and therefore that