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…

Moreover let us not think it strange that god sendeth us afflictions which seem grievous and sharp unto us, seeing we see that Hezekiah hath walked before us to show us the way. Men when they have had any good affection and desire to serve god, do much marvel if god punish them more then the wicked, and they suppose that they have lost their labour. This tentation is to common, as we see, that even David was also tormented with it when he saith: what meaneth this? for I see the despisers of God prosper and be in jollity,¹ and make their triumphs, and in the mean time I do nothing but sup up the ⟨p. 15⟩drink of sorrow, from the evening to the morrow I have no rest. It seemeth then that it is time lost to serve God: Behold how at the extremity he is beaten down, if God by his wonderful virtue had not upholden him. And because the like may come unto us, let us make us a buckler of the example that is here set before us of the king Hezekiah: for we have seen here before how he had framed all his life to the law of God: he had a zeal which is not to be found in many people, to purge all his land of all superstitions and idolatries: many alarumes were stirred up against him, to make him somewhat to revolt: but that nothing stayed him but that he set up the true and pure religion, & in his private life he sought nothing but that god might be glorified in, and through all: and yet look how God cometh to assail him: yea, and that of a strange fashion, for he is as a lion that breaketh his bones: So when we see that Hezekiah, is thus handled, ought not we to learn to bear patiently the corrections that God shall send us. Lo this is it that we have to conceive of this place.

Moreouer let vs not thynke it straunge that god sendeth vs afflictions whiche seme greuous and sharpe vnto vs, seing wee see that Ezechias hathe walked before vs to shewe vs the waye. Men when they haue had any good affectiō and desyre to serue god, do muche maruell yf god punishe them more then the wicked, and they suppose that they haue lost theyr labour. This tentacion is to cōmō, as we see, that euē Dauid was also tormented with it when he saith: what meaneth this? for I see the despisers of God prosper and be in iolitie,¹ and make theyr triumphes, and in the meane time I do nothinge but sup vp the