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 he addeth yet further, that we must thank God for all things. Whereby he doth us too wit, that men are too blockish, in that they consider not how many ways God allureth and spurreth them, notwithstanding the slothfulness that is in them. As if he should say, my friends, considering how much we be bound unto God, both in respect of our bodies, and in respect of our souls, can we comprehend it? No, it is not possible: for we have too small and narrow a wit. And when we have after a sort comprehended Gods benefits, yet have we not tongue too express nothing near how much we be bound unto him. So then, of whom is it long that we be so cold, that as soon as we have spoken but one word, we think it is enough, and that we be discharged till another time, and return too it again as slowly as may be? whereof cometh such slackness? Even of our shutting of our eyes. Although God show us by all means, that it becometh us too be occupied in blessing his holy name: yet will not we see it one whit. Again, as touching the body, we bear our selves on hand, that our goods come too us either by our own cunning, or by good fortune, or by favour of the world: as for God he is always let alone: and as for his goodness we think not on it. Now then, when we intend too do our de•tie in yielding God his dew praise, which is the chief sacrifice that he requireth (as I said afore:) let us have regard too consider better what we be,¹ and what our state is, and how we be subject too so many necessities, as God must be fain too succour us infinite ways. And when we have considered our wretchedness both in body and soul, and on the contrary part also considered how God provideth for all, and suffereth us not too have any penury without relief at his hand: surely we shall have wherewith too continue the praising of his holy name without ceasing. And Saint Paul will have us, not only too thank God for the benefits which we feel apparently: but also although he afflict us, and handle us diverse times otherwise than we would: yet will he have us too praise him still, after the example of Job,² who (as we see) not only thanked God when he had his children at his table, and they made merry in feasting one another: but also when he was bereft of his issue, and left desolate in his house:

And he addeth yit further, that vvee must thanke God for all things. Whereby he dooth vs too wit, that men are too blockish, in that they consider not how many wayes God allureth and spurreth them, notwithstanding the slothfulnesse that is in them. As if he should say, my freendes, considering how much wee bee bound vntoo God, both in respect of our bodyes, and in respect of our soules, can wee comprehend it? No, it is not possible: for wee haue too small and narrowe a wit. And when wee haue after a sort comprehended Gods benefytes, yit haue wee not tung too expresse nothing neere how much wee bee bound vntoo him. So then, of whom is it long that wee bee so cold, that as soone as wee haue spoken but one woord, wee thinke it is ynough, and that we bee discharged till another tyme, and returne too it agein as slowely as may bee? whereof commeth such slacknesse? Euen of our shetting of our eyes. Although God shewe vs by all meanes, that it becommeth vs too bee occupyed in blissing his holy name: yit will not wee see it one whit. Agein, as touching the bodie, we beare our selues on hand, that our goods come too vs eyther by our owne cunning, or by good fortune, or by fauour of the world: as for God he is alwayes let alone: and as for his goodnesse wee thinke not on it. Now then, when wee intend too doo our detie in yeelding God his dew prayse, which is the cheef sacrifyze that he requyreth (as I sayd afore:) let vs haue regard too consder better what wee bee,