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…

Lo here why I have said, that in all our prayers we ought to have these two considerations: The one is, that God is so good and loving, that although we be poor and miserable creatures, and nothing else but dung and stench, yet for all that he ceaseth not too love us, and to have great care of our salvation. And since we are come too the promise, which is a sure testimony that God is such one we should no more doubt what affection he beareth us, whether he be our friend or enemy, seeing it is so that he is very well willing to be bound unto us, in declaring unto us that he is our father, and taketh us to be his Children.

Loe heere why I haue said, that in all our prayers wee ought to haue these two considerations: The one is, that God is so good and louing, that although wee bee poore and miserable creatures, and nothing else but doung and stench, yet for all that hee ceaseth not too loue vs, and to haue greate care of our saluation. And since wee are come too the promise, which is a sure testimonie that God is such one we should no more doubt what affection he beareth vs, whether he be our friend or enemie, seeing it is so that he is very well willing to bee bounde vnto vs, in declaring vnto vs that he is our father, and taketh vs to bee his Children.

Now David maketh such a request as we have already touched, to the end he might answer those which wrought him shame. Although he saith word for word, To the end I may answer these which work me shame. Here David declareth, that when God shall have aided him, that then he shall be able to withstand all his enemies, put by all the injuries & scorns of the unbelievers and faithless which they did lay before him, to the end too shake and crush the faithful and to destroy them, yea and utterly to make their faith nothing worth, if it were possible for them to do it. By this we are let to understand, that if we make our prayers ⟨image 53⟩to God, whensoever it shall happen all the world too assail us, and that it might seem we should be plunged in hell an hundred thousand times, yet we might stand sure against all our enemies: yea verily, for God will never fail us, whensoever we shall desire & pray him to perform his promises unto us, and make us feel his goodness for our salvation. Moreover if we have wherewithal too resist the wicked and ungodly which come upon us too daunt and quail our faith, we shall have also wherewith to withstand Satan. For when men shall persecute us, or deride the promises of God, and labour all they may to turn us away from them, it cometh not of themselves, but it is the Devil which pusheth them forward. Even so then, we may fight and win the victory against all the combats of Satan, if we will pray unto God, after the example of David.