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…

Too be short, let us learn that our Lord Jesus knew whatsoever was profitable for the welfare of his church, and that he showed it in having a care that the faithful might not want any thing, but that they might have sufficient and convenient means too draw them too the kingdom of heaven. Now a days we have no more the office of Apostleship (as I told you before:) neither have we any ordinary Evangelists: but yet for all that, God doth nevertheless draw us unto him, and give us all helps that are meet for us. In deed he chastiseth our unthankfulness, and because he sees his word despised, he gives us the things with a wet finger (as they say,) which we should have more fully, if we had such zeal to them as were requisite. Yet notwithstanding let us not think our state too be the worse, because we have none Apostles now adays: for it were more than needeth. It was right necessary, considering the confusion and disorder of the popedom, that God should stir up men which were not chosen according to the order of the Church: but yet he gave them grace, and they served his turn. But now that there is order set both here and elsewhere where the Gospel is preached: we must come back too the thing before alleged, namely that when God giveth us such Shepherds as labour too guide us faithfully, and thereunto we have Teachers also, which are able too maintain the pureness of the doctrine among us, and too strengthen us in the pure truth of the Gospel, and too withstand all sects and errors: we must understand that that grace ought too be so esteemed, we must not grudge against God. Moreover it is very certain, that if the Gospel were received with such reverence and earnestness, as it deserveth: God also would be more bountiful on his side. Whereas we see now so few good Preachers, yea & that there step up a sort of dirtdaubers worse than naught, and far lewder than the Monks in the popedom, which are as ready to preach Mahomets Alcoran, as ⟨image 197⟩Christs Gospel, so they may keep their livings still: and when besides those, we see also a sort of drunkards that have no more zeal than Swine, but are as mastiffs that bark not, ne never open their lips but too confound light and darkness together, that all things might be put out of order:

Too bee short, let vs learne that our Lord Iesus knewe whatsoeuer was profitable for the welfare of his church, and that he shewed it in hauing a care that the faythfull myght not want anie thing, but that they myght haue sufficient and conuenient meanes too draw them too the kingdome of heauen. Now a dayes wee haue no more the office of Apostleship (as I told you before:) nother haue wee anie ordinarie Euangelistes: but yit for all that, God dooth neuerthelesse drawe vs vnto him, and giue vs all helpes that are meete for vs. In deede he chastyzeth our vnthankefulness, and bycause he sees his word despyzed, he giues vs the things with a wet finger (as they say,) which wee should haue more fully, if wee had such zele to them as were requisyte. Yit notwithstanding let vs not thinke our state too bee the worse, bycause wee haue none Apostles now adayes: for it were more than needeth. It was ryght necessarye, considering the confuzion and disorder of the popedome, that God should stirre vp men which were not chozen according to the order of the Church: but yit he gaue them grace, and they serued his turne. But now that there is order set both heere and elswhere where the Gospell is preached: wee must come backe too the thing before alledged, namely that when God giueth vs such Shepherdes as labour too guyde vs faythfully, and thervntoo wee haue Teachers also, which are able too mayntaine the purenesse of the doctrine among vs, and too strengthen vs in the pure truth of the Gospell, and too withstand all sectes and errours: wee must vnderstande that that grace ought too bee so esteemed, wee must not grudge ageinst God. Moreouer it is very certeyne, that if the Gospell were receyued with such reuerence and earnestnesse, as it deserueth: God also would bee more bountifull on his syde. Wheras wee see now so fewe good Preachers, yea & that there step vp a sort of dirtdaubers woorse than naught, and farre leauder than the Moonkes in the poppedome, which are as redie to preache Mahomets Alcoran, as