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…

Incline my heart unto thy testimonies: and not unto covetousness.

Enclinemy heart vnto thy testimonies: and not vnto couetousnesse.

Here we see how it hath already bin taught, that God must have the government of all the parts of man: that it is not enough that he give him a good wit, to the end to judge that which is good, but his courage and mind must also be tied thereto. He hath said before, Give me understanding: and by and by, Incline my heart unto thy testimonies. And to what end should he incline it? Let us here note that it is the office of God, to incline our hearts unto his ordinances, or else, they would go clean against the hair. For if we were disposed of our selves to walk according to the will of God, to hold & conceive whatsoever is written in his word, David needed never to have made this request, or else he should speak it feignedly and after a lying manner. When then the besought God to incline his heart to well doing: it is as much, as if he had confessed & said, It is not in me, O Lord, neither yet in any mortal creatures, to walk as thou hast commanded, for our hearts are altogether perverse and wicked. There is nothing in us but rebellion and treason against thee, we shall never be able to walk in thy obedience, nor never place ourselves therein, except thou puttest to thy hand, and inclinest our minds and hearts thereto. We see then what the condition ⟨image 44⟩and disobedience of mans nature against God is, until such time as he hath softened our stony and flinty hearts and that we have learned to bear his yoke: to be short, that our hearts be so abased and humbled, as that we have learned to hate that which is evil, and to desire that which is good. Lo, what is declared unto us in the first place.

Here we see how it hath already byn taught, that God must haue the gouernement of all the partes of man: that it is not enough that he giue him a good witt, to the ende to iudge that which is good, but his courage and minde must also be tied thereto. He hath said before, Giue me vnderstanding: and by and by, Encline my heart vnto thy testimonies. And to what ende should he encline it? Let vs here note that it is the office of God, to encline our heartes vnto his ordinances, or els, they would goe cleane against the haire. For if we were disposed of our selues to walke according to the wil of God, to hold & conceiue whatsoeuer is written in his worde, Dauid needed neuer to haue made this request, or els he should speake it faynedly and after a lying maner. When then the besought God to encline his heart to well doing: it is as much, as if he had confessed & said, It is not in me, O Lord, neither yet in any mortal creatures, to walke as thou hast commaunded, for our heartes are altogether peruerse and wicked. There is nothing in vs but rebellion and treason against thee, wee shall neuer be able to walke in thy obedience, nor neuer place ourselues therein, except thou puttest to thy hand, and enclinest our mindes and heartes thereto. We see then what the condicion