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…

But first let us note how the good king Hezekiah did not here set forth his own virtues to be praised of the world, for he might have kept in silence that which he hath declared of his own waywardness, & in place thereof he mought have spoken of his request made to God, and the constance of his faith: So then he saith not that he was of valiant courage, that he overcame all tentations without any stop or strife, he saith not that he had a faith so steadfast that it nothing troubled him to be corrected of the hand of god: nothing of all this▪ what then? we see a poor man tormented even to the extremity, and so stricken down, that he wist not what might become of him. We see a man astonished with rear of the wrath of God, looking on nothing but his own affliction. Then seeing Hezekiah doeth discover him self, and sticketh not to confess his own faults, in this we perceive that he was not led of ambition, nether of any vain glory to be praised of men, or to get reputation, but he rather was willing him self to be confounded with shame, ye god might be glorified. ⟨p. 4⟩What is then his purpose? It is in one part to make us know how he had been afflicted then, when he thought that God was against him: and moreover that therein men might know so much the more how great the goodness of God was, when he received him to mercy, and would not forsake him in necessity.

But first let vs note how the good king Ezechias did not here set fourthe his owne vertues to be praised of the world, for he might haue kept in silēce that which he hath declared of his owne waywardnesse, & in place therof he mought haue spoken of hys request made to God, and the constance of his faythe: So then he sayth not that he was of valiant courage, that he ouercame al tentations without any stoppe or strife, he sayth not that he had a faith so stedfaste that it nothing trobled him to be corrected of ye hand of god: nothing of al thys▪ what then? we see a poore man tormē ted euen to the extremitye, and so striken downe, that he wiste not what myghte become of hym. We se a mā astonished with reare of the wrath of God, lokyng on nothyng but his own affliction. Then seyng Ezechias doeth discouer him selfe, and sticketh not to confesse his owne faultes, in this we perceiue that he was not led of ambitiō, nether of any vaine glory to be praised of mē, or to get reputatiō, but he rather was willing him self to be cōfoūded wt shame, ye god might be glorified.