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…

And hereupon we may gather a good lesson to humble us withal: namely, that we shall never yield God the chief honour that he requireth at our hands, except he himself draw us too it, and give us grace too discharge it withal. The thing that he requireth above all other, is, that his word have all authority over us, and that we yield it such reverence, as he may no sooner speak, but we shall by and by answer, Amen: that is too say, as there may be a right (or full) accord betwixt them. That is the obedience of faith, which is the chief sacrifice that God requireth. But contrariwise, on our part there is nothing but replying against Gods word, we be full of lusts: and although we seem not too make utter resistance against him, and too play the mad bedlams as many do: yet are we given to a number of wicked imaginations, as we see, insomuch that some are as it were frantic, specially when a man speaks too them of God, for then will they have their mouth open too spew out their blasphemies, and too enter into disputation and debate, showing themselves ⟨image 249⟩utterly unwilling too receive any good doctrine. And othersome fall not into such fury and outrage, but yet they let slip whatsoever is said too them, & look what comes in at the one ear, goes out again at the other. Howsoever the case stand, neither the one nor the other do give glory unto God in receiving his word with such humility as they ought too do. Therefore let us acknowledge our own naughtiness, and be sorry for it, seeing we provoke Gods displeasure, in not yielding him the honour of thinking him too be soothfast and true. In deed we will not say in open speech, that his word is vain, we will not accuse him of leasing and deceit: but yet doth he protest that we do him as much wrong as that comes too, if we credit not his sayings? How long will this people slander me (sayeth he,) and rob me of mine honour?¹ It is a complaint which he maketh there by Moses, and in many other places of the scripture. And surely if Saint Johns saying be true,² namely, that when we believe God, we set to our seals that he is true, that is too say, we uphold him to be faithful: then contrariwise, if we have not that sure groundwork in our faith, & that Gods word win not so much at our hands as too make us too betake our selves wholly unto it without any gainsaying: