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…

Now it is said, That when we have the law of God before us, it shall go well with us: & that without it, it is impossible, but that our life must needs be confounded and come to naught. He saith a little after, Blessed are they which keep his Testimonies: and seek him with their whole heart. David now useth another word, then this word the law, to wit, testimonies. This word in it self importeth a covenant or contract, & it is not to be understood otherwise than to be applied to this end: to wit, that God covenanting with us, declareth, that his meaning is to pull & draw us unto him, and also how we ought to order our life, because ⟨p. 4⟩cause it is a mutual Contract between him and us. As if he should have said▪ Go to now, understand you that here I make a covenant with you, that you acknowledge me to be your GOD: That you doubt not of my love towards you, and in loving you that I am your Saviour, and that you call upon me in this affiance and trust, and besides that you be also my loving & obedient Children, that I do protect and govern you, and that you are my household Servants. When the Lord our GOD thus abaseth and offereth him self unto us, and that he useth such familiarity and gentleness towards us, as to talk with us, It is said, that he giveth us his Testimonies of his love and favour towards us.

Nowe it is sayde, That when wee haue the lawe of God before vs, it shal go wel with vs: & that without it, it is impossible, but that our life must needes bee confounded and come to naught. He sayth a little after, Blessed are they which keepe his Testimonies: and seek him with their whole heart. Dauid now vseth another worde, then this word the law, to wit, testimonies. This word in it self importeth a couenant or cōtract, & it is not to be vnderstood otherwise than to be ayplyed to this end: to wit, that God couenanting with vs, declareth, that his meaning is to pull & draw vs vnto him, and also howe we ought to order our life, because ⟨p. 4⟩cause it is a mutuall Contract betweene him and vs. As if he should haue saide▪ Goe to now, vnderstand you that heere I make a couenaunt with you, that you acknowledge mee to bee your GOD: That you doubte not of my loue towards you, and in louing you that I am your Sauiour, and that you call vppon mee in this affiaunce and trust, and besides that you bee also my louing & obedient Children, that I doo protect and gouerne you, and that you are my householde Seruauntes. When the Lorde our GOD thus abaseth and offereth him selfe vnto vs, and that hee vseth suche famyliaritie and gentlenesse towardes vs, as to talke with vs, It is sayde, that hee giueth vs his Testimonyes of his loue and fauour towardes vs.