A17716:83
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…
Sermons of John Calvin, upon the song that Hezekiah made after he had been sick and afflicted by the hand of God, contained in the 38. chapter of Isaiah. Translated out of French into English. 1560.Sermons of Iohn Caluin, vpon the songe that Ezechias made after he had bene sicke and afflicted by the hand of God, conteyned in the 38. chapiter of Esay. Translated out of Frenche into Englishe. 1560.
London: printed by John Day, 1560London: printed by Iohn Day, 1560
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
☞What shall I say? he who hath said it hath also done it. I will walk leisurely all the days of my life in the bitterness of my soul. Lord, to all those that shall live hereafter, the life of my spirit shall he notable among them, in that thou hast cast me in a sleep, and hast revived me. Behold in my prosperity the bitterness was bitter unto me: And thou hast loved my soul, to draw it out of the grave, because thou hast cast my sins behind thy back.
☞What shall I saye? he who hath sayde it hath also done it. I wyll walke leasurly all the dayes of my lyfe in the bitternes of my soule. Lorde, to all those that shall lyue hereafter, the life of my spirite shall he notable among them, in that thou hast cast me in a slepe, and hast reuiued me. Behold in my prosperitie the bitternes was bytter vnto me: And thou hast loued my soule, to drawe it out of the graue, because thou hast cast my sinnes behynd thy back.
WE have already herebefore declared that the good king Hezekiah complaining that it is God that persecuteth him, is more confused for that, than if he had all the men in the world his enemies, and if they all had conspired to torment him, as of truth it is a case much harder & that ought to amaze us more without comparison if God lift up him self against us, than if all creatures did make war upon us. Behold then the cause why Hezekiah standeth confused and in trouble, because he well feeleth that the thing which God declared unto him by his Prophet Isaiah, is now fulfilled in him, and this it is that most toucheth us to the quick when we make comparison, between the word of God and that ⟨p. 49⟩which we feel of his judgements. If God did simply but strike us, we might well be thrown down withal: but when he addeth also his word to reprove us, to make us know that it is he that doth chastise us, yea and that for our sins, lo this is a cause of much greater confusion. Expressly then Hezekiah sayeth: According as he hath spoken he hath also done it, and therefore he doeth thereupon conclude that he hath nothing to reply against it. For if we had to do with men, we might well make our complaints against them, but when we are to accuse God, the case must pass on his side. We may plead for a time, but he shall alway be justified, when we shall be condemned. Therefore it is lost time to think to amend our harm when we shall not escape condemnation before God, but when we desire to stand in our own defence, and use murmuring and complaint, all this doth nothing but enforce our evil, even so far as to drown us altogether. And therefore let us keep our mouth close as it is said in Job: for that is it which the good king Hezekiah meant in this place.