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…

The second is, that we are to crave of God, that he would have pity and compassion upon us, and deliver us from all our afflictions:yea and that we may come unto him by reason of his promise. For without God call us unto him, we can not come unto him but unadvisedly. For it should be ⟨p. 55⟩too too great presumption for mortal men to take upon them such boldness, as to come unto God, without he gave them leave, and exhorted them so to do. We must then have the word which God giveth us, by which he testifieth unto us, that he is ready to receive us, and willeth us also to come unto him. Lo what this verse importeth, when David sayeth, that the comfort which he received in all his adversities, was, that he was quickened by the word of God. By this he showeth, that he not only waited upon God, to be saved by him but that he had respect, namely to his promise: for without it (as I have already said) we can have no access unto God.

The second is, that we are to craue of God, that hee would haue pitie and compassion vpon vs, and deliuer vs from all our afflictions:yea and that we may come vnto him by reason of his promisse. For without God call vs vnto him, wee can not come vnto him but vnaduisedly. For it should bee ⟨p. 55⟩too too great presumption for mortall men to take vppon them such boldnes, as to come vnto God, without he gaue them leaue, and exhorted them so to doe. Wee must then haue the word which God giueth vs, by which he testifieth vnto vs, that he is ready to receiue vs, and willeth vs also to come vnto him. Loe what this verse emporteth, when Dauid sayeth, that the comfort which hee receiued in all his aduersities, was, that hee was quickened by the woorde of God. By this he sheweth, that hee not onely wayted vppon God, to be saued by him but that he had respect, namely to his promise: for without it (as I haue already said) we can haue no accesse vnto God.

In the mean time, we are to note, that this word, to quicken, importeth a great matter: to wit, that the word of God should have this power & strength, that if we should be as it were forlorn and desperate, that it would comfort and restore us, and that we should receive life through it. In very deed, this is a hard matter to put in practise: but we must not think that David hath spoken any thing here, but even as in deed it was. For in making of such a protestation, his meaning is to instruct us after his example, what our duty is. And that which is more, the holy Ghost meaneth here to show us, that the word of God hath not taken deep root in us, except it quicken us: to wit, that it plucketh us as it were out of the grave, when we are cast down and that we can do no more, giving us fresh force and strength, to be as it were men brought back out of hell, as if he took us by the hand lifting us up into a lusty courage. And thus much for this verse.