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 soothly his adding of above our ability too think, is too show that although men be enlightened by the Gospel, too distrust themselves, too walk in fear, yea, and too be abashed at the sight of their own wretchedness: yet perceive they not the hundred part of it, but must be fain too refer the residue unto God, and too look for more at his hand, than they can wish. And herewithall S. Paul showeth us, that we cannot pass measure, in trusting unto God, and in asking him the things that we have need of. In deed we must not use a foolish liberty, too pray too God too give us this, or that, as our fleshly desire provoketh us. For we must refer our selves wholly unto him: and specially we must in praying, fight against all our own lusts, that we be not too importunate in them. And in good sooth, we see what hath befallen too such as would needs have God too grant all their demands too pleasure them withal. The children of Israel were fed with flesh,¹ and were glutted with it, till they were ready too burst: but while the meat was yet in their throats, Gods wrath and vengeance fell upon them. It had bin much better for them, that their request had bin denied, than granted. Therefore when we pray, we must not take such liberty, as too say, that God should be subject too our affections and desires, but we must ask him the things that he hath promised us, assuring our selves that he will like well of our requests. And (as I said afore) let us not fear that we shall be too excessive, for we see that he will do yet more, and so had he need too do. And let us not be afraid too be blamed of any presumption or malapertness, in assuring our selves of his promises. In deed if men warrant themselves more than Gods word will bear them out in, or bear themselves on hand that they shall obtain whatsoever they imagine in their own brain: all such hope shall doubtless be a s•ope. But if we ground our selves upon Gods truth, which is sure and undeceytfull: let us hardily reach out the trust far and wide which we have in him, and let us not doubt but he will perform it too the full, yea, and much more too, as S. Paul showeth us here.

And soothly his adding of aboue our abilitie too thinke, is too shewe that although men bee inlyghtened by the Gospell, too distrust themselues, too walke in feare, yea, and too bee abashed at the syght of their owne wretchednesse: yit perceyue they not the hundreth part of it, but must bee fayne too referre the residew vntoo God, and too looke for more at his hand, than they can wishe. And herewithall S. Paul sheweth vs, that wee cannot passe measure, in trusting vntoo God, and in asking him the things that wee haue neede of. In deede wee must not vse a foolish libertie, too pray too God too giue vs this, or that, as our fleshly desyre prouoketh vs. For wee must referre our selues wholy vntoo him: and specially we must in praying, fyght ageinst all our owne lustes, that wee bee not too importunate in them. And in good sooth, weee see what hath befalne too such as would needes haue God too graunt all their demaundes too pleasure them withall. The children of Israell were fed with flesh,