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 there […] hoping or looking fo•••• present gain when we have to […] with God, and yet notwithstanding we must think our selves out of all doubt of it, in so much that the time ought not ⟨image 331⟩too seem too long, if we look up to the everlastingness of the kingdom of heaven▪ and yet for all this, no man is patient. We will be quiet enough so long as we hazard and adventure our goods: and is it not a very pitiful case, that when as God telleth us that he will be a faithful keeper of the things that are too be spent [in his service] we fall into sorrow and unquietness, and bear our selves in hand that all is lost, if we see not the thing performed out of hand? Ye see then that the thing which we have to mark upon this saying, is that we must bridle our selves till the convenient time be come. For it is not for us to appoint the certain day: that must remain in the hand of God. Therefore let us be contented that he exercise our patience, and the time shall not be prolonged further than is for our profit. Furthermore S. Paul meant also to draw us from the world, for we desire temporal profit. No doubt but we will be well contented that God should give us it: but yet therein we show our selves too be altogether earthly. For if a man do any alms deeds, although his intent be too serve God: yet could he find in his heart too receive by and by for every penny a shilling, or rather a Crown, and under colour of doing some small alms deeds, he would seek too rake into him self on every side. For as much then as we would chaffer so with God: Saint Paul to correct such vice, saith that we must look whether God calleth us, that is too wit, too the great day, at the which every man shall have his wages. So then although all seem to be lost as in respect of this world, and of this present life, yet let us not cease too trust still in God, who is a faithful keeper of our pawns and gages, & will do much more for us than we can hope for, so that we on our side have patience. Hereupon he concludeth, that while we have time and leisure, we must do good too all men, and specially to the household of faith. Now in saying that we must labour to do good while we have leisure: he setteth before us the shortness of our life. And we see an ungracious malady still in us in that behalf:

Howebeeit there 〈…〉 hoping or looking fo•••• present gaine when we haue to with God, and yet notwithstanding wee must thinke our selues out of all doubt of it, in so muche that the time ought not