Sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the.X.Commandments of the Law, given of GodSermons of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the.X.Commandementes of the Lawe, geuen of God

But when he gratifieth us so, and is in such wise beneficial towards us, it is to this end, that we may be so much the more lively touched, & that we may serve him with a more ardent zeal & desire. For shall we not be over wicked and unthankful, when we hear that God of his own good will bindeth him self unto us, and that he will propose unto us a reward and recompense: shall we not I say be over wicked and unthankful, if we apply not our selves wholly unto his service? We are his, and whatsoever we are able to do, we owe unto him: as our Lord Jesus Christ speaketh plainly hereof: Who are you? saith he. I demand of you, when a man shall have a servant: yea, a slave, whom he shall burden and press as an ox, or an horse, whether if this slave have done him any service, he will rise from the table to serve him, when he returneth from his work? No: for all that which the bondslave doth, he oweth of duty to his master and superior. So you owe all unto God (saith Jesus Christ) & he oweth you nothing. But yet God of his own free good will bindeth him self to promise us, if we serve him,¹ we shall be well recompensed, and perceive our labour & pain shall not be lost. ⟨image 127⟩And for what end and purpose doth he this? This is even by gentleness to break our heart. For (as I have already said) we are to to wicked, if we be not altogether inflamed to serve GOD, when we see that it pleaseth him, of his mere goodness, to propose unto us a reward, and to promise us a recompense, when we are in no respect worthy thereof. And withal let us also note, that when God shall have passed a thousand contracts with us, to reward and recompense our works, it wanteth so much that we may say, he oweth us any thing, that he might rather accurse and detest us. For who is he among us, which observeth the law as were requisite? If we observe one article thereof, we fail in an hundred, and when we think to fulfil that which God hath commanded us in his law, we falter therein, we trail our legs after us, there is always such great imperfection and weakness in us: that we can never run in such wise as we ought, and as it were requisite. We shall then be accursed and condemned, when God shall judge us in any rigour and severity.

But when he gratifieth vs so, and is in such wise beneficiall towards vs, it is to this end, that wee may bee so much the more liuelie touched, & that we may serue him with a more ardent zeale & desire. For shall wee not bee ouer wicked and vnthankfull, when wee heare that God of his owne good will bindeth him selfe vnto vs, and that he will propose vnto vs a reward and recompense: shall wee not I say bee ouer wicked and vnthankfull, if wee applie not our selues wholie vnto his seruice? We are his, and whatsoeuer we are able to doe, we owe vnto him: as our Lord Iesus Christ speaketh plainlie hereof: Who are you? saith he. I demande of you, when a man shall haue a seruant: yea, a slaue, whom he shall burden and presse as an oxe, or an horse, whether if this slaue haue done him any seruice, he will rise from the table to serue him, when he returneth from his worke? No: for all that which the bondslaue doth, he oweth of dutie to his maister and superiour. So you owe all vnto God (saith Iesus Christ) & he oweth you nothing. But yet God of his owne free good will bindeth him selfe to promise vs, if we serue him,