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…

We have seen heretofore, that we must keep the order which God hath set among us, that we may profit in Gods school all the time of life. For inasmuch as God hath not ordained any superfluous thing: we must conclude, that we shall never attain too so perfect learning while we live in this world, but that we shall have need too go further still, and (which is more) we shall never be at our ways end, till we be come too the end of our life. Forasmuch then as we know that we have yet but a peer of the thing which we must have, and that our faith will always be weak: let us strive so much the more too be strengthened, and too draw near unto God. And then shall we not be like little children, and such as waver and float too and fro with every wind, and have no steadiness in their faith. For if we be diligent to profit in Gods word, surely we shall be armed and fenced to withstand all the wiles of Satan, and of the wicked men that would beguile us. For although God bring us not to perfection o•t of hand, but hold us still in some feebleness: yet shall we never be destitute of good remedy, if we receive the things that he offereth us, & be not reckless in applying them to our behoof. The mean to bring which thing to pass is showed us here: namely that we follow the truth, & love one another. As if S. Paul should say, that the knowledge of God, & •he love of our neighbours are two things that ought not too be separated asunder.

WEe haue seene heeretoofore, that wee must keepe the order which God hath set among vs, that wee maye profite in Gods schoole all the tyme of lyfe. For in asmuch as God hath not ordeyued any superfluous thing: we must conclude, that we shall neuer atteyne too so perfect learning whyle wee lyue in this world, but that wee shall haue neede too go further styll, and (which is more) wee shall neuer bee at our wayes end, till wee bee come too the end of our lyfe. For asmuch then as wee knowe that wee haue yit but a peere of the thing which wee must haue, and that our fayth will alwayes bee weake: let vs stryue so much the more too bee strengthened, and too drawe neere vnto God. And then shall wee not bee lyke little children, and such as wauer and flote too and fro with euery wynde, and haue no stedinesse in their fayth. For if we be diligent to profite in Gods woord, surely wee shalbee armed and fenced to withstand all the wyles of Satan, and of the wicked men that would beguyle vs. For although God bring vs not to perfection o•t of hand, but hold vs styll in some feeblenesse: yit shall wee neuer bee destitute of good remedie, if wee receyue the things that he offereth vs, & be not rechlesse in applying thē to our behoofe. The meane to bring which thing to passe is shewed vs here: namely that wee followe the truth, & loue one another. As if S. Paule should say, that the knowledge of God, & he loue of our neyghbours are twoo things that ought not too bee seprated asunder.