Four sermons of Master John Calvin entreating of matters very profitable for our time,…Foure sermons of Maister Iohn Caluin entreating of matters very profitable for our time,…

But because that oftentimes, whiles the unbelievers abound in riches, and flourish in credit and authority, the poor Church of God is tossed hither and thither, with many dangers and infinite shipwrecks, yea which is more, is oftentimes seen as it were swallowed up: altogether like as a Boat which is even ready too be drowned: the felicity thereof consisteth principally in that everlasting estate which God hath laid up for it in his kingdom. The circumstance of the time wherein this Psalm was made serveth us very much, the better too make us too understand it. For although the people were then returned from Babylon, where it had been long time holden Captive, although that the Church were gathered as it were into one body, too be no more so scattered as it had been: although that the temple were builded and the Altar set up, thereupon to offer up sacrifices, and all the worship of God restored: Nevertheless because there was but one handful of people returned into the holy land, in respect of the great multitude that went out of it: and of that that remained, was daily diminished through the violences and outrages of the enemy-mies: in such sort that the state of the people was very contemptible: and also because the temple had no such majesty as it had before: All this maketh that the faithful could have no great hope, for the time is come. And surely it seemeth impossible that ever they should be restored too their former state from whence they were fallen. Wherefore it was very dangerous, least in calling too remembrance their discomfiture and overthrow, and thinking also of so many evils wherewith they ceased not too be oppressed, that they had not been shaken, and in the end had not fallen too utter ⟨p. 46⟩despair. The end therefore of this Psalm is too comfort them, that they might not be discouraged in their miseries. And the better to bring this to pass, God promiseth them, that they shall not only recover that which they had lost, but also lifteth them up into a better hope, too wit, of an incomparable glory, as also it had been promised unto them by their Prophet Haggai,¹ that the majesty of the second Temple should be greater then that of the first.

But because that oftentimes, whiles the vnbeleeuers abound in riches, and floorishe in credite and authoritie, the poore Churche of God is tossed hyther and thyther, with many daungers and infinit shipwrackes, yea which is more, is oftentimes seene as it were swalowed vp: altogeather like as a Boate which is euen ready too bee drowned: the felicitie thereof consisteth principally in that euerlasting estate which God hath laid vp for it in his kingdome. The circumstance of the time wherein this Psalme was made serueth vs very much, the better too make vs too vnderstande it. For although the people were then returned from Babylon, where it had been long time holden Captiue, although that the Churche were gathered as it were into one bodye, too bee no more so scattered as it had beene: although that the temple were builded and the Altar set vp, thereupon to offer vp sacrifices, and all the worship of God restored: Neuerthelesse because there was but one handful of people returned into the holy lande, in respect of the great multitude that went out of it: and of that that remained, was dayly diminished through the violences and outrages of the enimi-mies: in such sort that the state of the people was very contēptible: and also because the temple had no such maiestie as it had before: All this maketh that the faithfull coulde haue no great hope, for the time is come. And surely it seemeth impossible that euer they shoulde be restored too theyr former state from whence they were fallen. Wherefore it was very daungerous, least in calling too remembrance theyr discomfiture and ouerthrow, and thinking also of so many euilles wherwith they ceased not too bee oppressed, that they had not beene shaken, and in the ende had not fallen too vtter