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…

David here maketh protestation not only of his good affection & integrity, but also showeth the fruit and benefit that might come unto him, when as God shall have so holpen him and that he shall have put in proof the fruit of his faith. Lo then how this place must be expounded: O Lord, when I shall once have known thee to be my saviour ⟨image 55⟩and felt by proof thy mercy: then will I keep thy law a great deal better: As if he should have said, I shall be continually confirmed in thy obedience: and that shall greatly help me, to make always forward. And to say the trueth, all the graces which we receive from God, should conduct and lead us a great deal further, that if we have already been in a good way and forwardness, it is to this end that we should continue in it, and go on more and more, until such time as we come to the end.

Dauid heere maketh protestation not onely of his good affection & integritie, but also sheweth the fruite and benefite that might come vnto him, when as God shall have so holpen him and that he shall haue put in proofe the fruit of his faith. Loe then how this place must be expounded: O Lord, when I shall once haue knowen thee to be my sauiour ⟨image 55⟩and felt by proofe thy mercie: then will I keepe thy lawe a greate deale better: As if he should haue said, I shall be continually confirmed in thy obedience: and that shall greatly helpe me, to make alwayes forward. And to say the trueth, all the graces which we receiue from God, should conduct and leade vs a great deale further, that if wee haue already beene in a good way and forwardnesse, it is to this end that wee shoulde continue in it, and goe on more and more, vntill such time as we come to the end.

It is very true that God in conducting us, looketh not for any recompense. For he will lightly pass it over: but this is spoken for our use and instruction. And when we pray unto God, we ought to seek after all the things that can be which might confirm us, that we should not doubt but that God would hear our requests, and that we should also understand and know to what end we ought to refer those benefits which he bestoweth upon us, and that we receive at his hands. Now then, when David saith, I shall always keep thy law: yea for ever and ever. By this we have to note, that accordingly as God liberally bestoweth his benefits upon us, that our faith should be so much the more strengthened in him, that we ought the rather too be inflamed with a true desire & zeal, to yield our selves fully and wholly too him, to cleave to his righteousness, and to keep his law and word. And I would it pleased God that this might be deeply imprinted in our mind. But what? we see the unthankfulness, which is as it were in us all. For God never ceaseth to do us good, and will daily give us new matter to trust in him, to love and serve him. But whatsoever he doth for us, it availeth us nothing, for we are always cold as ice: there is no zeal in us, no not so much as any motion, so that it seemeth we are altogether senseless. And the rather ought we to meditate upon this Doctrine: For it is the right remedy to amend our so great lithernesse and coldness.