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 so the king Hezekiah remitteth all to God, as if he should say: Alas it is true that I am here, as to behold clearly the graces of God. But now I see that all this is as it were plucked from me: For it seemeth that God is minded to spoil me of all that he hath given me before: and now there resteth no more for me but to despair, for as much as he hath given over and forsaken me. He hath sent his prophet with this message, that I am undone. Alas, and when I perceive no more sign of the goodness of my god, neither that he extendeth this strength to comfort me in my afflictions: no not when I am in the anguishes of death: Lo is not this a woeful thing that our Lord hath forsaken me there, and that I am cut of from him? Now of this we have to gather, that be it in life, be it in death, this grace only should alway suffice us: that is to say, that God giveth us the feeling of his goodness. And when he showeth us that he is favourable unto us, let us go on boldly, and if we languish in this life, let us leave it patiently. True it is that we may well groan & sigh that we are captives, in this prison of sin: & beside we that may also bewail seeing these afflictions that God doth send them upon us. And yet ought we not to cease always •s bless the name of God, and to rejoice in the middest of all our sorrows. When we shall feel that he will be our father, and that he will know us for his children, in death we shall behold everlasting life, which shall make us forget all lamentations, so as we shall no more say: Alas what shall I do?

And so the kynge Ezechias remitteth all to God, as if he shold say: Alas it is true that I am here, as to beholde clearly the graces of God. But nowe I see that all this is as it were plucked from me: For it semeth that God is mynded to spoile me of all that he hath geuen me before: and now there resteth no more for me but to despayre, for as muche as he hathe geuen ouer and forsaken me. He hath sent his prophete with this message, that I am vndone. Alas, and when I perceiue no more signe of the goodnes of my god, neyther that he extendeth this strength to comfort me in my afflictions: no not when I am in the anguishes of death: Lo is not this a wofull thing that our Lorde hath forsaken me there, and that I am cut of from him? Nowe of this we haue to gather, that be it in life, be it in death, this grace onely shoulde alwaye suffice vs: that is to say, that God geueth vs the felynge of his goodnes. And whē he sheweth vs that he is fauourable vnto vs, let vs go on boldely, and if we lāguish in this life, let vs leaue it patiently. Trewe it is that we may well grone & sigh that we are captiues, in this prison of sin: & besid we yt may also bewaile seing these afflictions yt God doth send thē vpon vs. And yet oughte we not to cease alwayes s blesse the name of God, and to reioyse in the myddest of all our sorowes. When we shal fele that he wyll be oure father, and that he wyll knowe vs for his children, in death we shall beholde euerlastyng lyfe, whiche shall make vs forget all lamentations, so as we shall no more say: Alas what shall I do?