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…

But what is the cause why they so greatly withdraw them selves from that which they so highly protest too love? Yea they draw as near unto it, as they can possibly fly from it. By this it seemeth that they have conspired too reject and make little account of that good which GOD meaneth to do for them. And here we are too note, that David in this first verse accuseth us of horrible blindness, as if he should say, Surely you are all senseless and without wit. And to say the trueth if there were but one drop of reason in us, without doubt, we would not so reject and refuse our salvation of a set purpose as we do. See here how mercifully our good God dealeth with us, who showeth us how and in what manner we may be blessed, and yet we for all that draw altogether backward. Doth not David then of very right, justly condemn us? But because every of us protesteth to know the right way, he addeth, They which walk in the way of the Lord. He hath said: Blessed are they which are undefiled in their way: that is, which walk aright. And who are they? It is very true in deed as before I have said, that there are a great number, which will boast them selves too walk aright, and that in such sort, as that it can not be much amended: and yet notwithstanding, if they be asked who made their way, and who it is that assureth them that they shoot at the true mark, they know not what answer to make. For there is but one way which leadeth to salvation, which is the law: as David hereof speaketh, wherefore as many as walk in the Law of the Lord, saith he, go not out of their way. We have in this first verse two notable lessons: The one is, that God here accuseth us, that every of us strayeth and ⟨image 8⟩erreth from the way of salvation, and although we protest that we are willing and desirous to be saved, yet for all that our wicked affections do in such sort carry us away, as that we desire nothing else but that we may be far from that felicity and blessedness which is set before us. For there it is said, Blessed are they which walk in the right way. And thus much for the first point. The second is, That we may invent and devise many and sundry kinds of life, and so think that we go the best & surest way that may be, and by this mean deceive our selves, for there is but one way that leadeth to salvation.

But what is the cause whye they so greately withdrawe them selues from that which they so highly proteste too loue? Yea they drawe as neere vnto it, as they can possibly flye from it. By this it seemeth that they haue conspyred too reiecte and make little accounte of that good which GOD meaneth to doe for them. And heere we are too note, that Dauid in this firste verse accuseth vs of horrible blindenesse, as if he should say, Surely you are all senselesse and without witte. And to say the trueth if there were but one droppe of reason in vs, without doubte, wee would not so reiecte and refuse our saluation of a sett purpose as wee doe. See heere howe mercifully our good God dealeth with vs, who sheweth vs howe and in what manner we may be blessed, and yet we for all that drawe altogither backwarde. Doth not Dauid then of very right, iustly condemne vs? But because euery of vs protesteth to knowe the right way, hee addeth, They which walke in the way of the Lorde. Hee hath sayde: Blessed are they which are vndefiled in their way: that is, whiche walke aright. And who are they? It is very true in deede as before I haue sayde, that there are a greate number, which will boast them selues too walke aright, and that in such sorte, as that it can not be much amended: and yet notwithstanding, if they be asked who made their way, and who it is that assureth them that they shoote at the true marke, they knowe not what aunswere to make. For there is but one way which leadeth to saluation, which is the law: as Dauid heereof speaketh, wherefore as many as walke in the Lawe of the Lorde, sayth he, goe not out of their way. We haue in this firste verse twoo notable lessons: The one is, that God heere acuseth vs, that euery of vs strayeth and