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…

According to which reason, David after he had made his requests as we have heard, addeth, O Lord, establish thy word in thy Servant. As if he should have said, O Lord, I desire nothing of thee, but that which thou hast promised. And lo it is it that maketh me so bold too come unto thee, because I know that thou art faithful, and wilt too do unto me even as thou hast promised. Wherefore as the promises of GOD ought to give us an entrance into our prayers, and always to go on: even so also after that we have prayed, let us call too mind his own promises, to the end we may be ⟨p. 43⟩assured that it shall not be in vain, that we have required of him. And why so? Because that God of his own free good will, hath bound him self unto us, there is no doubt but that we shall obtain, considering that he will accomplish whatsoever he hath said, for he can not fail us. Lo then the meaning of the beginning of this verse.

According to which reason, Dauid after he had made his requestes as we haue heard, addeth, O Lord, establishe thy worde in thy Seruant. As if he shoulde haue saide, O Lorde, I desire nothing of thee, but that which thou hast promised. And loe it is it that maketh mee so bolde too come vnto thee, bicause I knowe that thou art faithfull, and wilt too doe vnto mee euen as thou hast promised. Wherefore as the promisses of GOD ought to giue vs an entrance into our prayers, and alwayes to go on: euen soo also after that wee haue prayed, lette vs call too minde his owne promisses, to the ende wee may bee ⟨p. 43⟩assured that it shall not be in vaine, that wee haue required of him. And why so? Bicause that God of his owne free good will, hath bounde him selfe vnto vs, there is no doubt but that we shall obtaine, considering that he will accomplishe whatsoeuer he hath saide, for he can not fayle vs. Loe then the meaning of the beginning of this verse.

Now when David sayeth that he may fear the Lord, he meaneth not that he would here allege his merits: but he doth it to this end, to declare that he hath followed the same vocation whereunto he was called: and yet notwithstanding he showeth, that he could not walk in the fear of God, but by the virtue and power of the holy ghost, which was continually in him. And even so must we also do. For whensoever we shall feel any good zeal in us, we must not brag upon it: for what have we that we have not received: according to the saying of Paul? For what is it that should separate us, that we should not be like unto the most wicked? cometh it of our own nature? no surely. It must needs be then, that it is God which hath put to his helping hand. And so, whatsoever goodness is in us, it is a testimony of the good will which God beareth us, and that he will be our father and Saviour. Lo here why David setteth this foremost, as though he would ratify the promises of God. Now he concludeth.