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 by the way Saint Paul doeth us too understand, that we must sing unto God in spirit, too the intent we imagine not too discharge our selves as a number of hypocrites do, which magnify God only with their tongue, having their harts full of coldness still within. Here therefore he setteth down two things which ought not too be put asunder. The one is, that we should sing unto God, and the other is, that we should talk with our neighbours. The whole ground then of our matter is, that the benefits which God hath bestowed upon us, should be commended, and that the remembrance of them should provoke us too love him and serve him, and too give our selves wholly too him, too seek him, and too know that too cleave unto him, is our full happiness. That is the ground of the matter that S. Paul setteth us down here. Now first of all we must (sayeth he) sing unto God: and that cannot be done but with the hart. For we know that God accepteth not any thing which is not agreeable to his own nature. Then if we will so sing as he may allow of it, and as he may accept our songs: we must goo too it with a hearty affection. For if there be any counterfeiting in our doings, so as we make a great show before men, and in the mean while be niggardly in our harts, and have no zeal at all, so as all is done but for fashions sake: surely we unhallow Gods name in so doing. And even for the same did he say by his Prophet Isaiah,¹ that such as came near him only with their lips,² were far of from him in their harts. Therefore let us mark³ well how it is said here, that too sing Gods praises, the hart must go before, and (as ye would say) make a thundering within. For it is the chief melody that can be, and therein we agree with the Angels of heaven. For if the mouth speak alone, surely it is but flat mockery. And although men allow of us for it: yet doth God refuse our paying of him with such coin, that is too say, with follies and things of nothing.

Now by the way Saint Paule dooeth vs too vnderstand, that wee must sing vntoo God in spirit, too the intent wee imagin not too discharge our selues as a number of hipocryts doo, which magnifye God alonly with their tung, hauing their harts full of coldnesse still within. Heere therfore he setteth downe twoo things which ought not too bee put asunder. The one is, that wee should sing vntoo God, and the other is, that wee should talk with our neyghbours. The whole ground then of our matter is, that the benefyts which God hath bestowed vppon vs, should bee commended, and that the rememberance of them should prouoke vs too loue him and serue him, and too giue our selues wholly too him, too seeke him, and too knowe that too cleaue vntoo him, is our full happinesse. That is the ground of the matter that S. Paule setteth vs downe heere. Now first of all wee must (sayeth hee) sing vntoo God: and that cannot bee doone but with the hart. For we knowe that God accepteth not any thing which is not agreable to his owne nature. Then if wee will so sing as he may alow of it, and as hee may accept our songs: wee must goo too it with a hartie affection. For if there bee any counterfetting in our dooings, so as wee make a greate shewe before men, and in the meane whyle bee nigardly in our harts, and haue no zele at all, so as all is doone but for fashyons sake: surely wee vnhallowe Gods name in so dooing. And euen for the same did he say by his Prophet Esay,