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…

For we have not sufficiently profited by his rods until we be truly humbled for all our life after. Who is he that shall find this in him self▪ Let every one now look, if a month after that God hath showed him mercy he hath reknowleged his faults and tremble thereat. But contrariwise (as I have already said) we seek nothing but to blot out all remembrance of them, for we think it to be matter that moveth melancholy. Sith then we so easily forget the rods of God, let us not marvel if after we have been once chastised he return again the second time and show him self so sharp that we shall not know where to become. Wherefore behold what we have to do• that is, that during the corrections, and when we be in trouble we bear patiently the rigour of god, knowing that it is not without cause that he useth so exceeding great sharpness against us, and that it is because he knoweth we have need of it: take this for one note. And also for another note, that we endeavour to awake, because of the great slothfulness that is in us, for we are so sluggish and so cold, that it is a pity to see. Let us then during the time of our affliction think upon all our offences, that we may have a feeling and conceiving thereof engraved even in the bottom of our hearts, & when God hath delivered us, ⟨p. 52⟩Let us still think upon it, and let not the feeling of our evil be only for one day or for a small space, but as we pray God to support us, and to give us leisure to bless his name and to rejoice in him, let us so do it that he be not compelled continually to strike us like asses, seeing our carelessness and the slowness that is in us. Let us prevent the rods of God unless we will have them always tied at our backs. And now let us note that Hezekiah trembled in such sort, that he ceased not to be holden up by the hand of God, and to seek for comfort in God, knowing well that he was merciful unto him. But these two things agree well, that on the one side the faithful are always in care fearing to stumble the second and third time when they have once paste a deadly fall. And yet nevertheless they take courage and trust in God to walk freely, for as much as they know that he will never fail them.

For we haue not sufficiently profited by his roddes vntyll we be truely humbled for all oure lyfe after. Who is he that shall find thys in hym self▪ Let euery one nowe looke, if a moneth after that God hath shewed him mercy he hathe reknowleged his faultes and tremble therat. But contrariwise (as I haue already saide) we seeke nothinge but to blot out all remembraunce of them, for we thinke it to be matter that moueth melancholie. Sithe then we so easily forget the roddes of God, let vs not maruell if after we haue bene once chastised he returne againe the seconde time and shew him selfe so sharpe that we shall not knowe where to become. Wherfore behold what we haue to do that is, that during the corrections, and when we be in trouble we beare patiently the rigour of god, knowynge that it is not without cause that he vseth so excedyng great sharpenes against vs, and that it is bicause he knoweth we haue nede of it: take this for one note. And also for another note, that we endeuour to awake, bycause of the great slouthfulnesse that is in vs, for we are so sluggishe and so coolde, that it is a pitie to see. Let vs then durynge the tyme of oure affliction thyncke vpon all oure offences, that we may haue a felynge and conceauynge thereof engraued euen in the bottome of our herts, & when God hath deliuered vs,