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…

Wherein also we see that Satan craftily goeth about to overthrow his faith, as if God had made it nothing worth. So then, First of all we are to note, that David feeling him self pressed down, runneth unto the promises of God. And this is a point very profitable for us. For behold how we must put the word of God in practise, when as we have learned it, that when we come to the fight, and Satan assaileth us on every side, in such sort as that it might seem that all the world had conspired against us, and that we see nothing but destruction round about: Even then, I say, must we run unto the promises which God hath made us, and make account of them, and so apply them to our own use, that then we may feel the power and strength of them. Now it shall be an easy matter for us, when as we are at rest and quiet, to receive whatsoever God hath said unto us. And why so? Because our Faith all that while shall not be exercised and troubled, so that we shall never be able to feel whether we have believed in good earnest, until such time as we are tried. Lo, Why I have said that this place is worthy the marking, that David speaketh not with out cause when he saith, So shall I make answer unto those that go about to shame me. For by these words he protesteth, that the wicked contemned, despised & mocked him, as if he had bin a very fool, in trusting so much unto God, but yet for that, his faith was not shaken. And see how Satan assaileth us with temptations, when as the wicked and ungodly speak reproachful words of us: insomuch as we have thought it to be wonderful strange gear, because that we having heard the so honourable & excellent promises of God, thought our selves straightways to be rapt and carried above the clouds, and yet this same our persuasion proved nothing at all so, as it made a show to the outward appearance: Even so likewise came it to pass in David, as ⟨image 50⟩[…] ⟨p. 45⟩[…] ⟨image 51⟩we may especially see in the twenty and two Psalm.

Wherein also we see that Satan craftely goeth aboute to ouerthrow his faith, as if God had made it nothing worth. So then, First of all we are to note, that Dauid feeling him selfe pressed downe, runneth vnto the promises of God. And this is a poynt very profitable for vs. For beholde how we must put the word of God in practise, when as we haue learned it, that when we come to the fight, and Satan assaileth vs on euery side, in such sort as that it might seeme that all the worlde had conspyred against vs, and that wee see nothing but destruction rounde about: Euen then, I say, must we run vnto the promises which God hath made vs, and make accounte of them, and so apply them to our own vse, that then wee may feele the power and strength of them. Nowe it shall be an easy matter for vs, when as wee are at rest and quiet, to receiue whatsoeuer God hath saide vnto vs. And why so? Because our Faith all that while shall not be exercised and troubled, so that we shall neuer bee able to feele whether we haue beleeued in good earnest, vntill such time as we are tryed. Loe, Why I haue said that this place is worthy the marking, that Dauid speaketh not with out cause when he sayth, So shall I make answere vnto those that go about to shāe me. For by these words he protesteth, that the wicked contēned, despised & mocked him, as if he had bin a very foole, in trusting so much vnto God, but yet for that, his faith was not shaken. And see how Satan assayleth vs with temptations, when as the wicked and vngodly speake reprochfull woordes of vs: insomuch as wee haue thought it to be woonderfull straunge geere, because that we hauing hearde the so honourable & excellent promises of God, thought our selues straightwayes to bee rapte and caryed aboue the cloudes, and yet this same our persuasion proued nothing at all so, as it made a shewe to the outward apparance: Euen so likewise came it to passe in Dauid, as