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…

WE shall see in this behalf a great many which will not stick to brag, and say, that they have greatly profited in the word of God; but yet if we look into their lives, we shall see and find that they have profited as much, as if they had never read, nor heard, one word of the holy scripture. Moreover, all the goodly and gay protestations which they shall make, tend to none other end but to get them selves estimation and credit: there is noon other thing in them, but a foolish and vain glorious show, that is, they desire to be commended and praised, as though they were the most able and worthy people of all others. Now when we will say that we have profited in the school of God, first of all we ought to show by our life and conversation whether it be so or no. For this is the true testimony whereunto we must hold us. God teacheth us not to the end we should do nothing else but prattle and babble: but he instructeth us in what manner we ought to live. He then which shall lead a dissolute and wanton life, declareth manifestly, that he never knew either God or his truth, Moreover, the meaning is not that we should set forth our selves, to be had in estimation of men, or to get us reputation and credit: ⟨image 113⟩but we ought rather to glorify God, knowing that we are so much the more beholden and bound unto him, in that it hath pleased him too bestow such his grace and favour upon us, as that we surmount others in learning, for that cometh not unto us by reason that we are sharper witted, or that we have gotten it through our own industry: to know, I say, the way of salvation, but it is a free gift which cometh unto us from above. Furthermore, when we shall acknowledge this too come from God, it is then great reason that we should draw our neighbours with us, and like as we are in a good way, even so ought we to be desirous to have every one to follow us.

WE shall see in this behalf a great many which will not sticke to bragge, and say, that they haue greatly profited in the woorde of God; but yet if we looke into their liues, wee shall see and finde that they haue profited as much, as if they had neuer read, nor heard, one worde of the holy scripture. Moreouer, all the goodly and gay protestations which they shal make, tende to none other end but to get them selues estimation and credit: there is noone other thing in them, but a foolish and vaine glorious shewe, that is, they desire to bee commended and praysed, as though they were the most able and worthy people of all others. Nowe when we will saye that we haue profited in the schoole of God, first of all we ought to shewe by our life and conuersation whether it bee so or no. For this is the true testimonie whereunto wee must holde vs. God teacheth vs not to the ende we should do nothing els but prattle and babble: but he instructeth vs in what maner we ought to liue. Hee then which shall leade a dissolute and wanton life, declareth manifestly, that he neuer knew either God or his truthe, Moreouer, the meaning is not that we should set foorth our selues, to bee had in estimation of men, or to get vs reputation and credit: