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…

Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes: and I will keep it unto the end.

Teach me O Lorde the way of thy statutes: and I will keepe it vnto the end.

Here David declareth that he hath well begun to serve God, but he right well feeleth that we are so frail, that we can never come home to the mark, without God strengtheneth us: wherefore he hath recourse unto this high & mighty power, by which God remedieth the vices that are in his chosen, which he knoweth, not to be in their nature. We see then, that when God stretcheth out his hand unto us, so that we have already bin instructors & teachers of our neigh bours, yet that we must not presume of our own power & strength, but stand always upon our guard beseeching god with all humility and reverence, that as he hath well begun in us, so he will perform & go through with the same. David said not, O Lord, I have strayed. But he hath very well said heretofore, that he was by nature a wandering sheep: & so shall we see him to be: And yet notwithstanding our Lord had already brought him into the way of salvation, yea and had bestowed upon him excellent graces. But yet he knowing that he might err an hundred times in a minute, without God held him with a mighty hand: prayeth to be instructed anew, as if all the rest which he had done had bin nothing. So then, when as God shall have bestowed upon us his graces, let us not be negligent & secure to lull our selves asleep, as though our state and condition were not to be amended. But let us rather think with our selves and consider, that he which hath bin taken and holden for a good & ⟨p. 37⟩virtuous man for the space of ten or xx. years might be seen overcome in a matter of nothing, were it not that God assisted him.

Heere Dauid declareth that he hath well begun to serue God, but he right wel feeleth that we are so frayle, that wee can neuer come home to the mark, without God strēgtheneth vs: wherfore he hath recourse vnto this high & mighty power, by which God remedieth the vices that are in his chosen, which he knoweth, not to be in their nature. We see then, that when God stretcheth out his hande vnto vs, so that we haue alredy bin instructers & teachers of our neigh bours, yet that we must not presume of our owne power & strength, but stand alwaies vpon our garde beseeching god with all humilitie and reuerence, that as he hath wel begun in vs, so he wil performe & go through with the same. Dauid said not, O Lord, I haue strayed. But he hath very well said heretofore, that he was by nature a wandring shepe: & so shall we see him to be: And yet notwithstāding our Lord had already brought him into the way of saluation, yea and had bestowed vpon him excellent graces. But yet he knowing that he might erre an hūdreth times in a minute, without God held him with a mightie hand: prayeth to be instructed anew, as if all the rest which hee had done had bin nothing. So then, when as God shal haue bestowed vpon vs his graces, let vs not be negligent & secure to lul our selues asleepe, as though our state and condition were not to bee amended. But let vs rather think with our selues and consider, that he which hath bin taken and holden for a good &