Two and twenty sermons of Master John Calvin In which sermons is most religiously…Two and twentie sermons of Maister Iohn Caluin In which sermons is most religiously…

Here David more clearly expresseth that which we have already touched: to wit, that the abundant joy of the faithful consisteth wholly in this, that God is merciful unto them, and knowing him to be such one, they are comforted by his grace, nothing doubting of his good will, And to prove it to be so, David saith in the first place, My soul melteth away with very heaviness, as if he should have said, that all his power and virtue was clean gone from him. For this similitude here, is also very well set down in diverse places of the Scripture. We have gushed and burst out like water. So then, see how David is here become as a forlorn man, so thrown down and humbled, as that he is clean void of all strength, and all other things whatsoever, and thereupon beseecheth God to comfort him. Now here we are to note that he speaketh not of the feebleness of his body, to say that he was humbled by sickness, & yet his soul to be lusty and strong: but he saith that he is melted away with very heaviness, as if he should have said, that he was utterly overthrown. And thereupon he desireth to be comforted, and that by the word of God. Here then we see, that when God shall mortify us, we shall be as men forlorn: and that not only all our force and strength in this present life shall be of no value, but also our souls and spirits shall be as it were humbled and cast down, too this end that we might boldly call upon God after the example of David Let us not fear then that God will forsake us, but let us rather learn to beseech him to comfort us, for David hath showed us the way unto it, neither went he so on of his own proper motion, but it was the spirit of God which pushed him forward thereto. Wherefore, having so good a guide, let us not fear, to be frustrate and void of our petitions and demands, so long as we follow the doctrine herein contained.

Heere Dauid more cleerely expresseth that which wee haue already touched: to witte, that the abundaunt ioy of the faythfull consisteth wholly in this, that God is merciful vnto them, and knowing him to be such one, they are comforted by his grace, nothing douting of his good will, And to proue it to be so, Dauid saith in the first place, My soule melieth away with very heauinesse, as if hee should haue said, that all his power and vertue was cleane gone from him. For this similitude heere, is also very well set downe in diuerse places of the Scripture. We haue gushed and burst out like water. So then, see how Dauid is heere become as a forlorne man, so throwne downe and humbled, as that he is cleane voyde of all strength, and all other things whatsoeuer, and therevpon beseecheth God to comfort him. Now heere we are to note that he speaketh not of the feeblenes of his body, to say that he was humbled by sicknesse, & yet his soule to be lusty and strong: but he sayth that he is melted away with very heauinesse, as if he should haue said, that he was vtterly ouerthrowne. And therevpon he desireth to be comforted, and that by the worde of God. Heere then we see, that when God shall mortifie vs, we shall be as men forlorne: and that not onely all our force and strength in this present life shall be of no value, but also our soules and spirites shalbe as it were humbled and cast downe, too this ende that we might boldely call vpon God after the example of Dauid Let vs not feare then that God wil forsake vs, but let vs rather learne to beseech him to comforte vs, for Dauid hath shewed vs the way vnto it, neither went hee so on of his owne proper motion, but it was the spirit of God which pushed him forward thereto. Wherefore, hauing so good a guyde, let vs not feare, to be frustrate and voyde of our petitions and demaundes, so long as wee followe the doctrine heerein conteyned.