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 thus therefore our Lord giveth us mirrors of our frailness when we see that the most holy, & most perfect speak so. Yet in the mean time God supported Hezekiah, because the principal thing remained with him still, as we have already seen, that he tended to this mark to glorify the name of God, for he had rather die a hundred times than to be one minute in this world profaning by unthankfulness the benefits that God hath done for him. Lo than Hezekiah keepeth this rule that men ought not to desire to live one day but to that end that God might be glorified in it. But in the mean time this that he was tossed with so great troubles that he could not orderly speak as he ought, proceeded of his weakness, which God holdeth for excused and supporteth. For it is not a disobedience, though we have many ranging words in our prayer. It is true that we ought alway to frame our selves to his rule, which is given us, to the end that every man pray to God, not at adventure, and after his own fancy. But how soever it be, we shall have measurable sorrows, & complaints in us, and it behoveth that god have pity of us in this behalf. Lo in a sum what we have to learn, that above all, while we live, we alway tend to this end that God be honoured. For therefore it is he that hath set us in this world, to that end it is that he hath chosen us to be of his flock, to wit, that we might be assembled to singe his praises with one accord.

And thus therfore oure Lorde geueth vs mirours of our frailenes when we see that the moste holy, & most perfect speak so. Yet in ye meane time God supported Ezechias, because the principall thing remained with him styll, as we haue already sene, that he tended to this mark to glorifie the name of God, for he had rather die a hundred tymes than to be one minute in this world prophaninge by vnthankfulnes the benefites that God hath done for him. Lo than Ezechias kepeth this rule that men ought not to desire to liue one daye but to that end that God might be glorified in it. But in the meane time this yt he was tossed with so great troubles that he could not orderly speake as he ought, proceded of his weakenes, whiche God holdeth for excused and supporteth. For it is not a disobediēce, though we haue many ranging wordes in our prayer. It is true that we oughte alway to frame our selfes to his rule, which is geuen vs, to thend that euery man pray to God, not at aduenture, and after his own fansie. But how soeuer it be, we shall haue measurable sorowes, & complaintes in vs, and it behoueth that god haue pitie of vs in this behalfe. Loe in a summe what we haue to learne, that aboue all, while we lyue, we alway tend to this ende that God be honored. For therfore it is he yt hath set vs in this worlde, to that end it is that he hath chosen vs to be of his flok, to wete, that we might be assembled to singe his prayses with one accorde.