Two and twenty sermons of Master John Calvin In which sermons is most religiously…Two and twentie sermons of Maister Iohn Caluin In which sermons is most religiously…

It is very true that God in conducting us, looketh not for any recompense. For he will lightly pass it over: but this is spoken for our use and instruction. And when we pray unto God, we ought to seek after all the things that can be which might confirm us, that we should not doubt but that God would hear our requests, and that we should also understand and know to what end we ought to refer those benefits which he bestoweth upon us, and that we receive at his hands. Now then, when David saith, I shall always keep thy law: yea for ever and ever. By this we have to note, that accordingly as God liberally bestoweth his benefits upon us, that our faith should be so much the more strengthened in him, that we ought the rather too be inflamed with a true desire & zeal, to yield our selves fully and wholly too him, to cleave to his righteousness, and to keep his law and word. And I would it pleased God that this might be deeply imprinted in our mind. But what? we see the unthankfulness, which is as it were in us all. For God never ceaseth to do us good, and will daily give us new matter to trust in him, to love and serve him. But whatsoever he doth for us, it availeth us nothing, for we are always cold as ice: there is no zeal in us, no not so much as any motion, so that it seemeth we are altogether senseless. And the rather ought we to meditate upon this Doctrine: For it is the right remedy to amend our so great lithernesse and coldness.

It is very true that God in conducting vs, looketh not for any recompence. For he will lightly passe it ouer: but this is spoken for our vse and instruction. And when we pray vnto God, we ought to seeke after all the thinges that can be which might confirme vs, that we should not doubt but that God would heare our requests, and that we should also vnderstand and knowe to what ende wee ought to referre those benefites which he bestoweth vpon vs, and that we receiue at his hands. Now then, when Dauid saith, I shall alwayes keepe thy lawe: yea for euer and euer. By this wee haue to note, that accordingly as God liberally bestoweth his benefits vpon vs, that our faith should be so much the more strengthened in him, that we ought the rather too be inflamed with a true desire & zeale, to yeelde our selues fully and wholly too him, to cleaue to his righteousnesse, and to keepe his lawe and woorde. And I woulde it pleased God that this might bee deepely imprinted in our minde. But what? we see the vnthankfulnesse, which is as it were in vs all. For God neuer ceaseth to doe vs good, and will dayly giue vs newe matter to trust in him, to loue and serue him. But whatsoeuer he doth for vs, it auaileth vs nothing, for we are alwayes colde as yse: there is no zeale in vs, no not so much as any motion, so that it seemeth wee are altogither senselesse. And the rather ought we to meditate vpon this Doctrine: For it is the right remedy to amend our so great lithernesse and coldenesse.