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 it is a wonder too see how desirous every man is, that God should show him self liberal and loving towards him. We would fain enjoy his benefits, and yet in the mean while we put the remembrance of them under foot, and labour (as much as in us is) even too bury them: and too our seeming, the time is lost that is spent in acknowledging how many ways we be bound unto God: and yet notwithstanding it is the thing wherein we ought too occupy •ur selves, it is the thing wherein our life ought too be chieflyest employed. And soothly if men were well advised, there is no mirth comparable too this, nor meet too be matched with it, namely with the acknowledging of how many ways God hath witnessed his goodness and love towards us. For (as I said) it serveth too further us in the hope of the heavenly life. And undoubtedly, none of the things that we receive at Gods hand have any true savouriness, unless we come too put our trust in him, and can call upon his name, and flee too him for refuge, and yield him his dew and deserved praise. And therefore let us mark well what is said here, namely that when we talk one with another we must always magnify Gods name. True it is, that we cannot attain too such perfectness in this life, but that we must be fain too have much communication of the needs whereunto we •ee subject, and of the doings and dealings which we have one with ⟨p. 272⟩another, and of divers things beside. But yet for all that, the principal point must not therefore be let alone, and cast behind our backs: that is too wit, we must not forslow too acknowledge the benefits whereby we be bound unto God, and thereby be provoked too praise him, so as every of us not only do his duty in secret, but also draw one another too it by mutual example. That therefore is the pith of the things which we have too remember in this strey•e.

And it is a woonder too see how desyrous euery man is, that God should shewe him self liberall and louing towards him. Wee would fayne inioy his benefytes, and yit in the meane whyle we put the rememberaunce of them vnder foote, and labour (as much as in vs is) euen too burie them: and too our seeming, the tyme is lost that is spent in acknowledging how many wayes wee bee bound vntoo God: and yit notwithstanding it is the thing wherin wee ought too occupie •ur selues, it is the thing wherin our lyfe ought too bee cheefyest imployed. And soothly if men were well aduyzed, there is no mirth comparable too this, nor meete too bee matched with it, namely with the acknowledging of how many wayes God hath witnessed his goodnesse and loue towards vs. For (as I sayd) it serueth too further vs in the hope of the heauenly lyfe. And vndoutedly, none of the things that wee receyue at Gods hand haue any trew sauerinesse, vnlesse we come too put our trust in him, and can call vppon his name, and flee too him for refuge, and yeeld him his dew and deserued prayze. And therfore let vs marke well what is sayd heere, namely that when wee talk one with another wee must alwayes magnify Gods name. Trew it is, that wee cannot atteyne too such perfectnesse in this lyfe, but that wee must bee fayne too haue much communication of the needs wheruntoo wee ee subiect, and of the dooings and dealings which wee haue one with