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

Now by this means we see that every mans praying unto God ought to be with understanding. For if a man that understandeth no more but his own mother tongue, should pray unto God in Greek or Hebrew, surely it were but a dalliance, and an utter perverting and marring of the rule of praying aright, and there could be nothing but hypocrisy and feigned devotion in it. I have told you already that we cannot pray unto God without faith, too be sure that he will here us. And what a thing is it if we know not what we have to ask at his hand? Is it not a defiling of so holy a thing as prayer is? We know that to call upon God, and too flee to him alone for succour, is the Sacrifice that he requireth at our hands, because that therein we confess him to be our father, and the very wellspring of all welfare. Now then it is meet that we should resort unto him which is the rewarder, according as the Apostle saith in the .xj. to the Hebrews,¹ that he disappointeth not those that seek him, but that they shall always find that there is nothing better than to flee unto him. Therefore when we pray unto God, we must have understanding to know what we crave of him. Mark that for one point. Moreover whereas it is said that we cry Abba, father: thereby we be done to understand, that the diversity of languages hindereth not the unity of faith. Isaiah seemeth to use a clean contrary manner of speaking,² when he saith, that all men shall speak the language of Canaan, that is to say, the Hebrew tongue. Now to be Christians and faithful believers, it is not of necessity that we must have skill of that language: but he meaneth that God shall be worshipped in all languages. And he speaketh of the tongue of Canaan, because the Hebrew was a holy tongue wherein Gods secretes were contained. Forasmuch then as that language was after a sort consecrated unto God: he saith that God shall be honoured of all men, and all men shall renounce their blasphemies, superstitions, and abuses, and there shall be one conformity of faith among men, and being instructed both in the Law and the Gospel, they shall all make one self same profession, so as there shall be one tunableness and good agreement among all men. Howbeit S. Paul meant to express here more clearly after what manner we call upon God:

Now by this meanes we see that euery mans praying vnto God ought to bee with vnderstanding. For if a man that vnderstandeth no more but his owne mother tongue, shoulde pray vnto God in Greeke or Hebrew, surely it were but a daliance, and an vtter peruerting and marring of the rule of praying aright, and there coulde be nothing but hypocrisie and feyned deuotion in it. I haue tolde you alreadie that we cannot pray vnto God without fayth, too bee sure that he will heere vs. And what a thing is it if wee knowe not what we haue to aske at his hande? Is it not a defiling of so holy a thing as prayer is? VVe knowe that to call vpon God, and too flee to him alone for succour, is the Sacrifize that hee requireth at our handes, bicause that therein we confesse him to bee our father, and the verie welspring of all welfare. Nowe then it is meete that wee should resort vnto him which is the rewarder, according as the Apostle sayth in the .xj. to the Hebrewes,