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…

We have to learn out of this place, that in the first place we must be assured of the trueth of God, yea although that men perceive it not us: And again although every man would keep it so secrete too him self, as that no man in all the world knew thereof, yet GOD and his Angels do know, how true and certain ⟨image 54⟩we esteem it to be, and also how we yield thereto, the honour which unto it appertaineth, and to be such in deed as deserveth to be holden for true and faithful. And thus much for the first point. Now for the second, Let us advisedly consider to edify our neighbours, that they might be confirmed by our example, and all with one accord to trust in God, that the wicked and ungodly might be ashamed that we might vex them, that we have wherein to glory, notwithstanding all their windlasses, privy devises, and whatsoever mischief else they are any way able to imagine against us, and thinking to make us as profane as themselves, yet that we may be able to cast them of, after the example of David, Lo then, the word which he desireth to have always in his mouth, too confirm all those which would trust in God, and to confound all them which deride and scorn his word and trueth. But what meaneth he by this saying, For ever? That is, that he being as it were forsaken of God in all his afflictions, was as one that were dumb and could not speak, as he complaineth in another place. And in deed, so long as God showeth unto us no token of his grace, although our enemies deride us with open mouth, yet we are not at that liberty to confute them and stop their mouths. David then being thus tempted a long time, desireth that the confession wherewith he might be able to magnify God, might not to be taken from him for ever. Wherein we are to observe, that if God sometimes leaveth us confounded after the manner of the world, in stead of being dismayed, we ought too beseech him that he would not suffer our mouths too be stopped for ever.

Wee haue to learne out of this place, that in the first place we must be assured of the trueth of God, yea although that men perceiue it not vs: And againe although euery man would keepe it so secrete too him selfe, as that no man in all the worlde knewe thereof, yet GOD and his Angels doe knowe, how true and certaine ⟨image 54⟩we esteeme it to be, and also how we yeelde therto, the honor which vnto it appertaineth, and to be such in deede as deserueth to bee holden for true and faithful. And thus much for the first poynt. Now for the seconde, Let vs aduisedly consider to edifie our neighbours, that they might be confirmed by our example, and all with one accorde to trust in God, that the wicked and vngodly might bee ashamed that we might vexe them, that we haue wherin to glory, notwithstanding all their windelasses, priuy deuises, and whatsoeuer mischiefe else they are any way able to imagine against vs, and thinking to make vs as prophane as themselues, yet that we may be able to cast them of, after the example of Dauid, Lo then, the worde which he desireth to haue alwayes in his mouth, too confirme all those which would trust in God, and to confound all them which deride and scorne his worde and trueth. But what meaneth he by this saying, For euer? That is, that he beeing as it were forsaken of God in all his afflictions, was as one that were dumbe and coulde not speake, as he complayneth in another place. And in deede, so long as God sheweth vnto vs no token of his grace, although our enemyes deride vs with open mouth, yet we are not at that libertie to confute them and stop their mouthes. Dauid then beeing thus tempted a long time, desireth that the confession wherewith hee might be able to magnifie God, might not to be taken frō him for euer. Wherein we are to obserue, that if God sometimes leaueth vs confounded after the maner of the world, in steade of beeing dismayed, wee ought too beseech him that hee woulde not suffer our mouthes too be stopped for euer.