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…

Now hereupon Saint Paul exhorteth the faithful, too walk as becometh their Calling, wherein they be called. This is not only too the intent they should thank God with their mouths, as he warned them too do: but also too profit themselves by the spiritual gifts which they receive, and too put them too such use as God may be glorified by them. For if we should set forth all Gods praises, and in the mean while men could perceive no zeal of honouring and serving him in all our life: it were but a feigning, and such a confession were but an unhallowing of Gods name, when our life were not answerable thereunto. Not without cause therefore doth Saint Paul add here, that men should walk according too the calling whereunto they be called. And thereupon we have too mark, first that forasmuch as we be slow, and there is ever too much sloth and coldness in us: we cannot devise a better way, nor which may touch us more too the quick, too make us go on forward in the obedience of God, than too think upon his infinite mercy which he hath showed towards us.¹ According whereunto, Saint Paul in the twelfth too the Romans, intending too win the faithful too teachableness, ⟨image 170⟩and too put their trust in God, setteth before them the mercy that they had received at his hand. As if he should say, that whensoever we hear of the stone that ought too be removed, or think upon the inestimable goodness which God hath used towards us, in that he spared not his only son, but gave him for our salvation, vouchsafing too have him offered up in sacrifice, too put away the remembrance of our offences and misdeeds: it ought too cleave our hearts asunder. Therefore in this text he setteth Gods calling of us before our eyes. Truth it is that we be sufficiently bound aforehand by nature too serve and honour God: for we have our life of him, and we live here at his cost: and we see how all his creatures serve us. That therefore is bond great enough whensoever the ruling of our life according too Gods will, cometh in question.

Now heervppon Saint Paule exhorteth the faythfull, too vvalke as becommeth their Calling, vvherin they bee called. This is not only too the intent they should thanke God with their mouthes, as he warned them too doo: but also too profit themselues by the spirituall giftes which they receyue, and too put them too such vse as God may bee glorifyed by them. For if wee should set foorth all Gods prayses, and in the meane whyle men could perceyue no zeale of honoring and seruing him in all our lyfe: it were but a feyning, and such a confession were but an vnhalowing of Gods name, when our lyfe were not answerable theruntoo. Not without cause therfore dooth Saint Paule adde heere, that men should walke according too the calling wheruntoo they bee called. And theruppon wee haue too marke, first that forasmuch as wee bee slowe, and there is euer too much sloth and coldnesse in vs: wee cannot deuyse a better way, nor which may touch vs more too the quicke, too make vs go on forewarde in the obedience of God, than too thinke vppon his infinite mercie which he hath shewed towardes vs.