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…

Ye see then, that the sum of the things which we have too remember in this strain, is, that we must behold Gods benefits, not only those which we have had experience of, but also which are seen through the whole world, that they may move us to praise Gods ⟨p. 151⟩name, and that there may be such an agreeable melody among all the faithful, as they may honour God for all the benefits which he bestoweth generally upon the whole body of his Church. And again, that we must hope that he will go through with all that ever he hath once begun: and that inasmuch as we have already felt how merciful he is unto us, so that he hath sought us out when we were strayed away from him, and pulled us out of the bottom of hell: we must not doubt but that he will hold on still, and increase the benefits more and more which we have felt already in part: And furthermore that in praying unto him, we must have an eye too the great number of necessities, which move and constrain us too come unto him, and thereupon consider, that he will do much more for us, than we can wish, and that we be so weak witted, and so unskilful, that we wot not what is meet for us: howbeit that he remedieth the same two ways, namely, by stirring up unutterable groanings in us, as is said more fully in the eight too the Romans:¹ and on the other side by supplying such unskilfulness, so as he tarrieth not till we crave his succour, but preventeth us through his mercy, notwithstanding that we welter in our wretchedness, and perceive not the tenth part of the things that we want.

Yee see then, that the summe of the things which wee haue too remember in this streyne, is, that wee must behold Gods benefites, not onely those which wee haue had experience of, but also which are seene through the whole world, that they may moue vs to praise Gods ⟨p. 151⟩name, and that there may bee such an agreeable melodie among all the faythfull, as they may honour God for all the benefites which he bestoweth generally vppon the whole body of his Church. And agein, that wee must hope that he will go through with all that euer he hath once begunne: and that inasmuch as wee haue already felt how mercifull he is vntoo vs, so that he hath sought vs out when wee were strayed away from him, and pulled vs out of the bottome of hell: wee must not doubt but that he will hold on still, and increace the benefites more and more which wee haue felt already in part: And furthermore that in praying vntoo him, wee must haue an eye too the great number of necessities, which moue and constreyne vs too come vntoo him, and theruppon consider, that he will doo much more for vs, than wee can wishe, and that wee bee so weake witted, and so vnskilfull, that we wote not what is meete for vs: howbeeit that he remedyeth the same twoo wayes, namely, by stirring vp vnutterable gronings in vs, as is sayde more fully in the eyght too the Romanes: