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…

So then let us learn, yea let us learn to stay our selves so upon God, as that when we shall be called too make confession of our faith, since it is so that it is GOD which hath spoken, let all the creatures in the world be nothing to us ward: let us not be ashamed, and let nothing hinder and stop us, from maintaining of his word. In the end David concludeth and saith,

So then let vs learne, yea let vs learne to stay our selues so vpon God, as that when we shall be called too make confession of our faith, since it is so that it is GOD whiche hath spoken, let all the creatures in the worlde be nothing to vs warde: let vs not bee ashamed, and let nothing hinder and stoppe vs, from mainteining of his woorde. In the ende Dauid concludeth and sayth,

My hands also will I lift up unto thy Commandments, which I have loved: and my study shall be in thy statutes.

My handes also will I lifte vpp vnto thy Commaundementes, which I haue loued: and my study shallbee in thy statutes.

These two verses here need no long declaration, for we have already had the same sentences: and yet notwithstanding David showeth us, that it is not enough to think of this Doctrine for a time: but we must all the course of our life profit our selves therein more and more. ⟨p. 53⟩Lo here the principal point which we have to note, that we must take pleasure in the commandments of God which we have loved: to wit, that we ought to learn to conceive such an affection and desire to follow the word of God, and to stick thereto, as that we should be fully resolved to say, In very deed, this is the most sweet and amiable thing that possibly can be, to subject our selves under the yoke of our God and to bear it and therefore we must draw in it, and obey him. Have we done this? We must then in stead of a number of foolish vanities whereunto we are inclined, yea, and in place of the wicked affections and allurements of Satan, learn to take pleasure in the word of God, so that we may protest in trueth (after the example of David) that they are the commandments of God which we have loved. Moreover let us mark well this sentence, when he saith, My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments. For this is as much as if he had said, O Lord, I will not only protest with my mouth that I love thy word, but I will also lift up my hands: yea, as we commonly say, I will lift up my hands to the caky God. By this he letteth us to understand, that if we would serve God as becometh us, that it is not enough for us to witness the truth of God with our mouth, but we must also show by our good and godly life, that which we protest with our mouth, and that there be an accord and sweet harmony between the one and the other. True it is, we shall find some doubts when as there shall be any question of following God: but this sentence is to be noted, when he sayeth, I will lift up my hands. And to know that when God shall see, that it shall surpass our force and strength, let us pray unto him to grant us that grace, that we may lift up our hands unto his commandments, to wit, so high as we can possibly, to the end we may take hold of his grace and virtue, better then heretofore we have done.