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

Therefore it is not without cause that S. Paul setteth down the promise, that we shall gather or reap, as if he had said, ye wretched men, ye stand upon thorns when any profit is showed you, and although the issue be uncertain, yet your covetousness driveth you to it, and every of you is willing to disburse your money. Lo here, God which is true and can not lye, assureth us oftentimes, yea and warranteth us that whatsoever we put into his hand shall yield us inestimable gain: and yet we can not find in our hearts to believe him for all his promises which he makes unto us. And can we do him a greater wrong? He for his own part oweth us nothing: whatsoever he promiseth us, is of his own good will without being in any wise bound unto us, and yet can not any thing induce us to serve him. Therefore mark well what Saint Paul telleth us, to the end that every of us may endeavour too amend this cursed root of covetousness, which is so deeply settled in our hearts, that we must be fain to enforce our selves when we should follow whither so ever God calleth us, and specially when we should play the faithful Stewards in dealing forth the goods which he hath put us in trust with. How be it, let us mark the words which he addeth, in convenient season, saith he. And this serveth to confirm and strengthen us in patience. For we would have God to show us to day or to morrow, or rather out of hand, what the profit is that he speaketh of. The husbandman will hold him self quiet when he hath laid his seed in the ground. Afterward he sees frost and snow, wind and rain, heat and cold: and yet nevertheless he waiteth still for the coming of harvest. They that occupy the trade of merchandise, put forth their money, yea and their own persons also in great danger: and in the mean while their silver goes and runs, and is shifted too and fro: and yet notwithstanding because they be accustomed to buying and selling, they know well enough that they shall not receive any profit at the first day, but must be fain to wait till the time come.

Therefore it is not without cause that S. Paule setteth downe the promise, that wee shall gather or reape, as if he had sayde, yee wretched men, yee stande vpon thornes when any profite is shewed you, and although the issue be vncertayne, yet your couetousnesse driueth you to it, and euery of you is willing to disburse your money. Lo heere, God which is true and can not lye, assureth vs oftentimes, yea and warranteth vs that whatsoeuer wee put into his hande shall yeelde vs inestimable gayne: and yet wee can not finde in our hartes to beleeue him for all his promises whiche he makes vnto vs. And can wee doo him a greater wrong? He for his owne parte oweth vs nothing: whatsoeuer he promiseth vs, is of his owne good will without beeing in any wise bound vnto vs, and yet can not any thing induce vs to serue him. Therefore marke well what Sainct Paule telleth vs, to the ende that euery of vs may indeuer too amende this cursed roote of couetousnesse, which is so deepely setled in our hearts, that wee must bee fayne to inforce our selues when wee shoulde followe whither so euer God calleth vs, and specially when wee should play the faythfull Stewards in dealing foorth the goods which he hath put vs in trust with. How be it, let vs marke the words which he addeth, in conuenient season, sayth he. And this serueth to confirme and strengthen vs in patience. For wee would haue God to shewe vs to day or to morrowe, or rather out of hande, what the profite is that he speaketh of. The husbandman will holde him selfe quiet when he hath layde his seede in the grounde. Afterwarde he sees frost and snow, winde and rayne, heate and colde: and yet neuerthelesse he wayteth still for the comming of haruest. They that occupie the trade of marchaundise, put foorth their money, yea and their owne persons also in great daunger: and in the meane whyle theyr siluer goes and runnes, and is shifted too and fro: and yet notwithstanding bicause they bee accustomed to buying and selling, they knowe well inough that they shall not receyue any profite at the first day, but must be fayne to wayte till the time come.