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…

Now these men indeed, very well declare, that they never understood what faith and hope are. For if we received the promises of God without hypocrisy we ought to be thus earnest and zealous, to pray, and have recourse unto him, saying, O Lord God, when as thou hast assured me of thy bounty and mercy, it is to this end, that I should call upon thee in my need. And that I see the necessity which urgeth and presseth me, I must needs come unto thee as thou haste called me by thy word. Behold then, that all the promises of God should serve us in stead of so many spurs to prick us forward, in making our prayers unto him. Let us now come to the words of David.

Nowe these men indeede, very well declare, that they neuer vnderstood what faith and hope are. For if we receiued the promises of God without hypocrisie we ought to be thus earnest and zealous, to pray, and haue recourse vnto him, saying, O Lorde God, when as thou hast assured mee of thy bountie and mercie, it is to this end, that I should call vpon thee in my neede. And that I see the necessitie which vrgeth and presseth mee, I muste needes come vnto thee as thou haste called mee by thy worde. Beholde then, that all the promises of God should serue vs in stede of so many spurres to prick vs forwarde, in making our prayers vnto him. Let vs nowe come to the woords of Dauid.

Let thy loving mercies, or thy graces, come unto me O Lord, and thy salvation.

Let thy louing mercyes, or thy graces, come vnto me O Lord, and thy saluation.

After that he hath laid his foundation whereupon too build, he desireth one self same thing in two words, which to the outward appearance are divers and sundry: to wit, the graces of God, and his salvation. And yet notwithstanding David meaneth nothing else, but that god would show him self to be his Saviour. Neither is there any thing here spoken superfluously: For it is as much as if he had said, O my God, I beseech thee that according to thy promise, thou wilt make me feel thee to be my saviour and father. But yet in the mean while, he expresseth unto us whence this salvation which we must wait for, and which God hath promised us cometh, and that is, of his mere good will. For men cannot otherwise choose: but that they will ever wrongfully take upon them some thing or other, which appertaineth nothing unto them, and always to be foolishly and arrogantly bound unto them selves. Now David, clean contrary, showeth here, that all the salvation which he hopeth after & desireth, cometh from another springhead, then from the virtue and dignity of men: to wit, even from the mere goodness of God. So then we see, that as before he hath spoken of the promise, even so also he here addeth and expresseth the cause, which moved God to bind himself so unto us: to wit, his mere mercy.