Thirteen sermons of Master John Calvin, entreating of the free election of God in…Thirteene sermons of Maister Iohn Caluine, entreating of the free election of God in…

Now it is certain, that as often as we offend GOD, it is as if we brake our neck, as much as lieth in us. And so, can we restore life too our selves after we have lost it? Lo then, what ought to stir us up to walk in carefulness, and not to tarry till the gate be shut against us: but let us hearken to all the warnings that have bin given us: and when God shall knock, let us open unto him. And moreover we have too hold that which is spoken unto us by the Prophet Isaiah: Seek the Lord whilst he may be found: Call upon him when he is ready to hear. It is true that the time maketh no great matter, that we should take any great advantage of it: but yet we must understand for conclusion, that this place of Isaiah was fulfilled when the Gospel was preached, as S. Paul declareth in the second to the Corinthians, Lo the ⟨p. 170⟩acceptable days, lo the time of salvation. And likewise we must well mark the similitude, which is alleged unto us by our Lord Jesus Christ that we let not the occasion slip: but when God biddeth us that we come unto him, let us come unto him, yea hasting our selves, and let us not draw our legs to come slowly, least our unthankfulness in the end seclude us, and that the gate be shut against us. Let us take good heed, I say to all these exhortations, & so let us make our profit of them, that having found place of repentance before God, we may, after we have bewailed our faults, have our mouth open to rejoice in him, and too praise his holy name, for that he shall have been merciful unto us.

Nowe it is certaine, that as often as wee offende GOD, it is as if wee brake our necke, as much as lyeth in vs. And so, can wee restore lyfe too our selues after wee haue loste it? Loe then, what ought to stirre vs vp to walke in carefulnesse, and not to tarry til the gate be shut against vs: but let vs hearken to al the warnings that haue bin giuen vs: and when God shall knocke, let vs open vnto him. And moreouer we haue too holde that which is spokē vnto vs by the Prophet Isaie: Seeke the Lorde whilest hee may be founde: Call vppon him when he is readie to heare. It is true that the tyme maketh no greate matter, that wee shoulde take any great aduantage of it: but yet we must vnderstand for conclusion, that this place of Isaye was fulfilled when the Gospel was preached, as S. Paule declareth in the second to the Corinthians, Loe the ⟨p. 170⟩acceptable dayes, loe the time of saluation. And lykewise we must wel marke the similitude, which is alledged vnto vs by our Lord Iesus Christ that wee let not the occasion slippe: but when God biddeth vs that we come vnto him, let vs come vnto him, yea hasting our selues, and let vs not drawe our legges to come slowly, least our vnthankefulnesse in the end seclude vs, and that the gate be shut against vs. Let vs take good heede, I say to al these exhortations, & so let vs make our profit of them, that hauing founde place of repentance before God, wee may, after we haue bewailed our faultes, haue our mouth open to reioyce in him, and too prayse his holy name, for that he shall haue beene mercifull vnto vs.