The sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle of S. Paul too the…The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the…

Now it should seem by all likelihood that he meant to take this common saying as drawn out of the fourth Psalm: ⟨p. 217⟩not that he allegeth the Psalm too report the natural sense of it: but too apply it too his own purpose. For we may well take many texts of Scripture, and apply them too divers things, howbeit without altering of any thing in them, and yet notwithstanding they shall abide in their natural sense still. Even so, too the end that S. Pauls saying might be the better received: he sayeth, Be angry, and sin not, as though it had bin a common saying, and so well known, as it had bin taken almost for a proverb. Now, David useth a word which signifieth properly too chafe and storm: howbeit that was in rebuking such as persecuted him wrongfully, because they were hardened in their malice, and forepossessed with so great and venomous rage against him, that they made no conscience too oppress him. Forasmuch therefore as he saw such wilful stubbornness in his enemies, he sayeth unto them, Be ye angry, and ye shall not sin. Whereby he doth us too wit, that the cause why they were so carried away with rage against him, was, that there was neither fear of God, nor honesty, nor conscience that could hold them back any more, but that they were become as wild beasts. And that is the cause why he sayeth, Be angry: that is too say, Enter a little into questioning and reasoning with your selves: examine what ye be doing: and then will ye not sin any more. If every of you will go into his chamber, and bethink himself advisedly: ye shall perceive, that hitherto ye have bin driven by devilish rage. Now this doctrine is right necessary for all men, because we see what headiness there is in us, insomuch that we have no sooner conceived any toy in our head, but that by and by without inquiring of Gods will, or without asking counsel at his mouth, as the Prophet Isaiah exhorteth us too do: we take the thing that we have conceived,¹ for good, and will needs subdue all men too our liking. And therefore the cause why we overshoot our selves so much, is, that we enter not into examination of the matter with our selves, that we might discern between the good and the evil, even by yielding God his due authority, in giving ear with all reverence and modesty, too the things that he showeth us by his word.

Now it should seeme by al lykelyhod that he ment to take this common saying as drawen out of the fourth Psalme: