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…

Now this is right worthy to be noted, for there are many blockish persons (and the most part) which fear death, but it is not because they feel the curse of God appear to them. It is true as we have said before, that God leaveth alway this point in the conscience of man, but they have not all alike consideration thereof. Wherefore is it then that death is dreadful unto them? because every one will say, I desire to be. Truly when they speak in this manner it is as much as if they said I would be a calf, or an ass, or a dog, for the being of brute beasts is in this world, & the being of men where is it, but in this that they are joined to their God? But now we are as it were in prison, for in stead that this world should have been unto us as an earthly paradise (if we had continued in the obedience of God) now we are as in a strange country, wherein we be as locked up and banished. It is true that yet we see many times some, yea many tracks of the goodness of God, but how so ever it be, yet we do but languish here. But there are but few that know this. So much that more then ought we to note well this doctrine, which I have here before touched, that is to wit, that both in death, and in all other afflictions we are more encumbered and troubled with the wrath of God than with the evil that we can feel. If one be afflicted with poverty, so that he hath hunger and thirst, an other be stricken with sickness and suffer great torments, ⟨p. 13⟩another be persecuted of men so as he hath no time of rest, and more if in the end death come before our eyes, we ought to know that there is nothing so much to be feared as the wrath and vengeance of God. But men do clean contrary. And this mark, why I have said that we must note this doctrine the better: because a man may see that the pore sick persons, and they that are afflicted, in what sort soever it be, will cry Alas, one will cry the arms, another will cry the legs, the one here, the other there: but yet they come never to the ground of the evil. And that proceedeth of the leprosy that is in us. For we are so dull witted that we can not attain to know the judgement of God. So much the more ought we to learn when we shall be beaten with such rods as I have said to make us look upon the cause whence this evil proceedeth:

Nowe this is right worthy to be noted, for there are many blockish persons (and the mooste part) which feare death, but it is not because they fele the curse of God appeare to them. It is true as we haue saide before, that God leaueth alway this point in the conscience of man, but they haue not all alike consideration therof. Wherfore is it then that death is dreadfull vnto them? bycause euery one will say, I desire to be. Truely when they speake in this maner it is as much as if they said I would be a calfe, or an asse, or a dogge, for the beyng of brute beastes is in this world, & the beynge of men where is it, but in this that they are ioyned to theyr God? But now we are as it were in prison, for in steade that this world shold haue bene vnto vs as an earthlye paradise (if we had continued in the obeidience of God) now we are as in a straunge countrey, wherein we be as lockt vp and banished. It is trew that yet we se many times some, yea many trackes of the goodnes of God, but how so euer it be, yet we do but languish here. But there are but few that know this. So much yt more thē ought we to note wel this doctrine, which I haue here before touched, that is to wit, that both in death, and in all other afflictions we are more accombred and troubled with the wrath of God than with the euyll that we can fele. If one be afflicted with pouertie, so that he hath hunger and thirst, an other be stricken with sicknes and suffer great tourmentes,