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,…

Word for word it is, that that which is said in thee, are wonderful things. But we have to mark the purpose of the Prophet, or rather that which the holy Ghost would here speak by the Prophet. The condition of the people of the Jews, was at this time very contemptible, so as there was small account made of them. They had many great and grievous enemies on every side which vexed them, and but few had the courage to put back offences. Every day there fell out, new alterations beyond all hope of men: in such sort that it seemed, that after things went so to wrack & waxed worse and worse, that all in the end should come to utter ruin, in such sort that any man could hardly hope that ever the City of Jerusalem should be restored again. Now to the end that the hearts of the faithful should not be utterly swallowed up with heaviness and despair, they are here by the Prophet, set to lean upon that word which God had pronounced of the estate of his Church to come: for there is no doubt but that the holy Ghost withdraweth the faithful in this place from the beholding of things present, to the end he might bring them unto the promises, which did assure them of an incredible glory that God would shortly give too his Church. So then howsoever the thing that appeareth, serve not to make the children of God rejoice, yet notwithstanding the Prophet commandeth them to lift up their senses on high, by the virtue of that word the which is given unto them: too the end they might patiently wait until those things which had been promised ⟨p. 56⟩