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…

Make me to go in the way of thy commandments: for therein is my desire.

Make me to goe in the waye of thy commaundements: for therein is my desire.

Here we see that which hath been touched, to wit, that David prayeth not unto God that he would begin to set him in a good way: For he was already entered into it, he had already walked in it a good long season. And in deed, this desire is a very great furtherance unto us, when as we may pray unto God to beseech him to govern us, and we ought to prefer this felicity or blessedness before all the things in the world. And herein let us show our selves to have greatly profited. Now David protesteth, without hypocrisy, that he hath kept the commandments of God: Nevertheless he beseecheth the Lord to grant unto him power to persevere therein, and that he may come to the perfection thereof. Wherein we see that it is not enough that when God hath begun and set us in a good way, that we may ever after do what soever seemeth good in our own sight. We see here to the contrary, that when God shall have taught us, and that we have been apt to learn from the beginning: nevertheless that his grace should be made void every minute, without he did continue it. And so in the first place, when as God shall have instructed us, to make us to come to a good understanding and knowledge, he must also grant unto us a good affection and desire. And hath he given us that? It is also meet that he continue the same in us, and make us desirous to walk in his commandments. Finally after that he hath given us to will, the must also give us to perform as S. Paul saith, that he do all in all, but not to reward this good will or any other good preparation which is in us, but to do it according ⟨p. 39⟩to his pleasure, to wit, of his free mercy.

Here we see that which hath beene touched, to wit, that Dauid prayeth not vnto God that he would beginne to set him in a good way: For he was already entred into it, hee had already walked in it a good long season. And in deede, this desire is a very great furtherance vnto vs, when as wee may praye vnto God to beseeche him to gouerne vs, and we ought to preferre this felicitie or blessednes before all the things in the worlde. And herein let vs shewe our selues to haue greatly profited. Now Dauid protesteth, without hypocrisie, that he hath kept the cōmaundements of God: Neuerthelesse he beseecheth the Lord to graunt vnto him power to perseuer therein, and that hee may come to the perfection thereof. Wherein wee see that it is not enough that whē God hath begunne and set vs in a good way, that we may euer after doe what soeuer seemeth good in our owne sight. We see here to the contrary, that when God shall haue taught vs, and that we haue beene apt to learne from the beginning: neuerthelesse that his grace shoulde be made voide euery minute, without hee did continue it. And so in the first place, when as God shall haue instructed vs, to make vs to come to a good vnderstanding and knowledge, he must also graunt vnto vs a good affection and desire. And hath he giuen vs that? It is also meete that he continue the same in vs, and make vs desirous to walke in his commaundementes. Finally after that he hath giuen vs to will, the must also giue vs to perfourme as S. Paul saith, that he doe all in all, but not to rewarde this good will or any other good preparation which is in vs, but to doe it according