Sermons of John Calvin, upon the song that Hezekiah made after he had been…Sermons of Iohn Caluin, vpon the songe that Ezechias made after he had bene…

And yet is this a fault, for we ought not to make our selves like to them that are so blockish that they will in no case think upon that which they have deserved of God, that is the punishment whereof they are worthy. For this cause we ought so much the more to note this doctrine where ⟨p. 63⟩Hezekiah leadeth us by his example to know our since, so oft as the Lord doth rigorously handle us, that we may not only know that it is his hand which afflicted us, but also that then he serveth his process upon us, and accuseth us of the since that we have committed, and because we would not of our own mind come to have our cause tried before him, and to ask him pardon that he is driven to draw us thereunto by force. This is the first thing that we have to learn of this place.

And yet is this a faulte, for we oughte not to make our selues lyke to them that are so blockish that they wyll in no case thynke vpon that which they haue deserued of God, that is the punishmēt wherof they ar worthy. For this cause we ought so muche the more to note thys doctrine where ⟨p. 63⟩Ezechias leadeth vs by his example to knowe our synnes, so ofte as the Lorde doth rygorouslye handle vs, that we may not only knowe that it is his hand which afflicted vs, but also that then he serueth his processe vpon vs, and accuseth vs of the synnes that we haue committed, and bicause we would not of our owne mynde come to haue our cause tryed before hym, and to aske hym pardon that he is dryuen to drawe vs thereunto by force. This is the firste thynge that we haue to learne of this place.

The second point is that when God withdraweth his hand which he had heavily laid upon us, that is a token that he is merciful unto us, & that he will no more lay our since unto our charge. True it is that sometime God after that he hath afflicted the wicked and reproved, leaveth them there and they wax lustier than they were before as I have already said. But here Hezekiah showeth how we ought to feel the goodness of God when he sendeth us any release, when he relieveth us of any sickness, when he delivereth us from any danger, when he comforteth us in poverty, when we have been in trouble and sorrow and he draweth us out. If then we be sad and sorrowful, it is not enough for us to feel the evil, but we ought to look unto the principal cause & to come to the original spring thereof. So when a little babe crieth, so soon as the teat is given him he is appeased. And why? he sucketh & is content, for he hath no understanding to go further than to his own hunger, he knoweth not whence the meat cometh, he hath no skill to thank her that gave him his substance, for he hath neither wit nor reason