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 wicked, or proud have had me exceedingly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.

The wicked, or proud haue had me exceedingly in derision: yet haue I not declined from thy lawe.

Here David showeth his constancy in resisting the temptations and combats wherewith Satan assailed him. For behold how our faith shall be rightly and duly ⟨image 63⟩approved: to wit, when as we shall be assailed, and when as the devil shall think that he hath gotten the better of us, yet must we persevere and still continue to trust in God: lo, I say, a good proof of our faith. And this is it that David meaneth to signify in this place: for it is an easy matter, when as we shall have no temptations to trouble us, to take a taste of the promises of GOD, and to hope that he will do that which he hath spoken. But when as we shall be tormented with afflictions, then the devil cometh and putteth us in mind of many irksomenesses, and fantasies, as if God were retired and gone far from us, and that the wicked and ungodly make a mock at our simplicity: when I say, that we are so assailed: then must our faith show it self, whether it be true or not. And if then we shall constantly persevere without being vanquished and overcome, O see now a sure and certain sign that we have believed in good earnest and not hypocritically, that we have not taken his word in vain, but it hath been lively rooted in our souls. Let us then well note, that if we will have a true proof of our faith, and learn too speak in truth that we have trusted in God, and his promises: it is meet that we should feel very boisterous assaults: and yet for all that, we have not been forsaken and left, until such time as we withdraw our selves from God.

Here Dauid sheweth his constancie in resisting the temptations and combattes wherewith Satan assayled him. For beholde howe our faith shalbe rightly and duely ⟨image 63⟩approued: to wit, when as we sbalbe assailed, and when as the deuill shall thinke that he hath gotten the better of vs, yet must wee perseuer and still continue to trust in God: lo, I say, a good proufe of our faith. And this is it that Dauid meaneth to signifie in this place: for it is an easie matter, when as we shall haue no temptations to trouble vs, to take a tast of the promises of GOD, and to hope that hee will doe that which he hath spoken. But when as we shalbe tormented with afflictions, then the deuill commeth and putteth vs in minde of many irksomenesses, and fantasies, as if God were retired and gone farre from vs, and that the wicked and vngodly make a mocke at our simplicitie: when I saye, that wee are so assayled: then must our faith shewe it selfe, whether it be true or not. And if then wee shall constantly perseuer without beeing vanquished and ouercome, O see nowe a sure and certaine signe that wee haue beleeued in good earnest and not hypocritically, that wee haue not taken his worde in vayne, but it hath beene liuely rooted in our soules. Let vs then well note, that if wee will haue a true proufe of our faith, and learne too speake in truth that we haue trusted in God, and his promises: it is meete that wee should feele very boysterous assaultes: and yet for all that, we haue not beene forsaken and left, vntill such time as we withdrawe our selues from God.