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 before we go forward with the rest, let us mark that this •oord Blessing, is taken in divers senses, when S. Paul applieth it […] there too God or too our selves. It is said that we bliss God, & how? […] he blisseth us? After what manner doth he bliss us? We bliss […] him as he blisseth us, we come far short of that. For (as I have •••edged already out of the sixteenth Psalm) all our services can do […] no good: & again we must needs conclude, that (as I have also alleged ⟨image 23⟩out of the hundred & xvi. Psalm) all that we can bring unto God is no more but this acknowledgement, that we be beholden too him for all the good things which we have. Ye see then that all our blessing is but too yield the sacrifice of praise unto God. Let that serve for one point. But now when God blisseth us, is it but only in words? No: but it is a filling of us, and a bestowing of all things upon us which we want, so far forth as is needful. And why is this word Blessing attributed unto him? Because he needeth not too travel and take much pain too help his servants, and too give them the things that he knoweth too be expedient for them. If he do but say the word, that is too say, if he do but utter his will, the thing is done. Forasmuch then as God having created the world by his only word, hath power also too do us good by his alonely behyghting of it: therefore it is said that we become rich by his only blessing, that is too say, by his showing of himself loving and favourable too us. Now let us see if we be too be excused when we defraud God of his dew, by disdaining too open our lips too confess how much we be bound and beholden unto him, after we have received so many benefits at his hand. Let all the blessings that all the men in the world can give unto God, be laid into the balance against the only blessing wherewith he enricheth us: and which shall outweigh other? All that they can allege, is, but that they must be fain too confess, that they can neither do, nor say any thing that is aught worth: whereas on the other side God showeth us that he hath all that is requisite for our welfare. Therefore it is not without cause that S. Paul sayeth here, that the faithful must give and apply all their wits and endeavours too bliss God, seeing he giveth them so great cause:

Now before wee go foreward with the rest, let vs marke that this •oord Blissing, is taken in diuers sences, when S. Paule applyeth it ther too God or too our selues. It is said that wee blisse God, & how? he blisseth vs? After what maner dooth he blisse vs? Wee blisse him as he blisseth vs, wee come farre short of that. For (as I haue edged alreadie out of the sixteenth Psalme) all our seruices can doo no good: & agein we must needes conclude, that (as I haue also alledged