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 though he do speak here but of one man alone, yet we have thereby a good admonition of the shortness of our own life also. Trueth it is, that it is a thing well enough ⟨p. 27⟩known unto us, and yet we do very seldom think of it. For although we do confess this present life to be nothing else but a shadow: yet are we so wrapped therein that no man thinketh upon any other thing, but to make provision for a hundred years. And to be short, it seemeth that we should never depart from this world, we are so occupied on things of the world. So much the more then ought we to call that to mind which the scripture showeth us of the frailty of our life, as s. Paul also saith that now we are lodged in a cabin:¹ the body of a man is not a house worthy to be called a goodly dwelling, or building: for in it is nothing but transitory, wherefore let us mourn waiting till we may be fully restored, and let us not be tied so to this world but that always we may be going forward. For the unfaithful how so ever it be, they shall come to their end: but by no means come they near unto God, but rather they are settled in this world, and in the stead of going forward, they do drown them selves more deeply in it. Let us then learn to go forward, that is to say, let us learn to be so disposed to follow God when he calleth us, that death may never come to us before his time.

Nowe thoughe he do speake here but of one man alone, yet we haue thereby a good admonition of the shortnesse of oure owne lyfe also. Trueth it is, that it is a thynge well ynoughe ⟨p. 27⟩knowen vnto vs, and yet we do verye seldome thyncke of it. For althoughe we do confesse thys present lyfe to be nothyng els but a shadowe: yet are we so wrapped therein that no man thinketh vpon any other thinge, but to make prouision for a hundreth yeres. And to be short, it semeth that we should neuer depart from this world, we are so occupied on things of the world. So much the more then ought we to call that to mynde which the scripture sheweth vs of the frailtie of our life, as s. Paule also saith that now we are lodged in a cabine:¹ the body of a mā is not a house worthy to be called a goodly dwellyng, or buyldyng: for in it is nothing but trāsitory, wherfore let vs mourne wayting tyll we may be fully restored, and let vs not be tyed so to this world but that alwaies we may be goyng forward. For the vnfaithful how so euer it be, they shall come to theyr ende: but by no meanes come they neare vnto God, but rather they are settled in this worlde, and in the steade of goynge forewarde, they do drowne them selues more depelye in it. Let vs then learne to goe forwarde, that is to saye, let vs learne to be so dysposed to folowe God when he calleth vs, that death maye neuer come to vs before his time.