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…

For the same cause also he addeth, Yielding always thanks. As if he said, that if we were well advised, the continual repeating of Gods praises, and the harping upon them should never grieve us nor weary us. And why? Seeing that God continueth his benefiting of us, is it not reason that there should be an answerableness on our part, too hold out in doing him honour for his good turns? Doth any one day pass wherein we receive not at the least a hundred good turns at Gods hand? Now is it meet that we should think, that when we have thanked him a twice or thrice for the great number of benefits which we receive of him all our life long, we have leisure to occupy our selves otherwise ever after? When as our Lord reneweth and refresheth the remembrance of his goodness: were it not meet that we should be moved by it? Therefore it behoveth us always too mark well this saying, whereby Saint Paul declareth, that we be too unmindful of God, if we be not provoked too acknowledge his benefits from year too year, from mooneth too mooneth, from day too day, and from hour too hour, and too yield him the sacrifice that he requireth of us, which is, that we should protest our selves too be wholly at his will, too be beholden too him for all good things, and that it is impossible for us too perform the hundred part of our duty, according as we hear how David sayeth, What recompense shall I yield unto the Lord for all the good that he hath done me?^{1 2}I will receive the cup of salvation, and call upon his name. And in the fortieth Psalm he sayeth expressly, that the order which God keepeth in governing us, is so wonderful a thing, as it passeth the hairs of our heads in number, insomuch that we must needs be amazed at it. And therefore seeing we cannot come at the infinite goodness of God, though we endeavour too apply all our wits thereunto: all leastwise let us aim towards it. And like as we see that God is never weary of showing himself liber all towards us, but floweth continually as a fountain, yea even by so many streams as are able too satisfy us in all things: let us also show continually without ceasing, how much we be bound […] beholden to so good and kind hearted a father.

For the same cause also he addeth, Yeelding alvvayes thankes. As if he sayd, that if wee were well aduyzed, the continuall repeting of Gods prayses, and the harping vppon them should neuer greeue vs nor weery vs. And why? Seeing that God continueth his benefyting of vs, is it not reason that there should bee an answerablenesse on our part, too hold out in dooing him honour for his good turnes? Dooth any one day passe wherein wee receyue not at the least a hundred good turnes at Gods hand? Now is it meete that wee should thinke, that when wee haue thanked him a twyce or thryce for the greate number of benefytes which we receyue of him al our lyfe long, we haue leyzure to occupy our selues otherwyse euer after? When as our Lord renueth and refresheth the rememberance of his goodnesse: were it not meet that wee should bee moued by it? Therefore it behoueth vs alwayes too marke well this saying, whereby Saint Paule declareth, that wee bee tootoo vnmyndfull of God, if wee bee not prouoked too acknowledge his benefytes from yeere too yeere, from mooneth too mooneth, from day too day, and from houre too houre, and too yeeld him the sacrifyze that he requyreth of vs, which is, that wee shoulde protest our selues too bee wholy at his will, too bee beholden too him for all good things, and that it is impossible for vs too performe the hundreth part of our dewtie, according as wee heare how Dauid sayeth, What recompence shall I yeeld vntoo the Lord for all the goood that he hath doone mee?