Sermons of M. John Calvin upon the Epistle of Saint Paul to the GalatiansSermons of M. Iohn Caluine vpon the Epistle of Saincte Paule to the Galathians

howbeit for as much as he seeth our feebleness and slowness, he addeth this overmore too make us pluck up a better heart, saying, that none of all our doings shall be lost. For he doth as it were take them into his keeping, and will deliver us them again, yea even with a greater profit than we could have hoped or wished for in the world. He that hath money in his pouch, and sees a commodity offered him, will lay it out on all sides: for he presupposeth that he shall lose nothing by it, but that besides the return of the principal, he shall be much increased by the profit that will rise to him of it. Truly if a man be about to lend money, or too put it too some traffic, he will look twice or thrice too it that it may be sure: but finally if he spy a rich man that is able too pay and of good credit: he concludeth by and by that he may well trust him. But though God assure us as much as may be that whatsoever we put into his hands shall return safe unto us, and that we shall have greater gain of it, than of all the things that we can do in the world: he hath not so much credit among us that we will trust too his word: no, we be deaf on that side. First of all therefore,¹ too the end we should not be thrust out of the way by mean's unkindness: our Lord saith, whatsoever ye do too the least, or to the most despised of these, I accept it and acknowledge it as done to my self. Too be short I receive it as of mine own hand. Lo how God speaketh as in respect of the word profit. Also he addeth a promise, that there is no usury nor gain so great, as the profit that is to be hoped for at his hand, so we shut our eyes against worldly things, that they hold us not back, but bestow the things that he hath put into our hands, and which he hath committed to our charge, as he appointeth by his word. But whereas God speaketh after that manner, not once or twice but many times, so as if there were but one drop of trust in us, surely we should be fully resolu••• •f it: yet notwithstanding ••• swade we be still fastened here below, and cannot believe nor persuade ourselves, that God speaketh in good earnest.

howbeit for as muche as he seeth our feeblenesse and slowenesse, he addeth this ouermore too make vs plucke vp a better harte, saying, that none of all our doings shall bee lost. For he dooth as it were take them intoo hys keepyng, and will deliuer vs them ageyne, yea euen with a greater profite than we coulde haue hoped or wished for in the world. He that hathe money in his powche, and sees a commoditie offered him, wyll lay it out on all sydes: for he presupposeth that he shall loze nothing by it, but that besides the returne of the principall, he shall be much increased by the profite that will ryse to him of it. Truely if a man bee about to lend money, or too put it too some traffike, he will looke twyce or thrice too it that it may bee sure: but finally if he spie a riche man that is able too paye and of good credit: he concludeth by and by that he may well trust him. But thoughe God assure vs as much as may be that whatsoeuer we put intoo his handes shall returne safe vntoo vs, and that wee shall haue greater gayne of it, than of all the things that wee can doo in the worlde: he hath not so muche credit among vs that wee wyll trust too his woorde: no, wee bee deafe on that syde. First of all therefore,