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…

And since that this appertained to the son of God, we have to note, that it can not be chosen but that it must spread it self throughout his members, & that every faithful man must be exercised with such temptations. And therefore, if we see the wicked, and the enemies of God jest and scoff at us when as we are in affliction, taking occasion thereby to lift up their horns, and to deride us, let us not yield for all that: but let us remain firm and constant, since that David hath showed us the way: and not only he, but also our Lord Jesus, unto whom we must be like: and therefore we must be of a lusty courage to follow him. And thus much for the first point. For the second, let us note that we have not war with men, when as the ungodly do so rise against us, and vomit out such mockeries: the same say I, cometh not from them: but it is Satan that casteth his darts at us, and meaneth mortally to wound us. And to put by these blows, we had need to be armed with the word of God, which is our sword, with the buckler of faith, and the Helmet of hope: even as Saint Paul exhorteth us to do. Mark well this point: we must not be too too tied unto men, when as they shall thus grieve and vex us: but we must look a great way farther: to wit, unto Satan, who by such assaults & combats goeth about all he can too overthrow our saith,¹ if it were possible for him to do. Now the protestation which he maketh, is well worthy the noting: for after he had complained of these rebukes and mockeries of the ungodly, he addeth, yet have I not shrinked from thy way, O Lord. Let us then conclude, that since we have the word of God, that if all the world, should conspire against us too turn us from it, we ought too abide steadfastly in it, and too be fast tied thereto, and too cleave so hard unto it, as that we might never be ⟨image 65⟩pulled away from the same. To this end ought this protestation to serve us: to wit to strengthen us in constancy, that we might know, that if David was so steadfastly settled in the hope which he had: that the truth of God is not at this day diminished or decreased.

And since that this appertained to the sonne of God, we haue to note, that it can not bee chosen but that it must spread it selfe throughout his members, & that euery faithfull man must bee exercised with such temptations. And therefore, if we see the wicked, and the enemies of God iest and scoffe at vs when as we are in affliction, taking occasion thereby to lift vp their hornes, and to deride vs, let vs not yelde for all that: but let vs remaine firme and constant, since that Dauid hath shewed vs the way: and not onely he, but also our Lord Iesus, vnto whome we must be like: and therefore we must be of a lusty courage to follow him. And thus much for the first point. For the second, let vs note that we haue not warre with men, when as the vngodly do so rise against vs, and vomitte out such mockeries: the same say I, commeth not from them: but it is Satan that casteth his dartes at vs, and meaneth mortally to wounde vs. And to put by these blowes, wee had neede to bee armed with the woorde of God, which is our sword, with the buckler of faith, and the Helmet of hope: euen as Saint Paul exhorteth vs to doe. Marke well this point: we must not bee too too tyed vnto men, when as they shall thus grieue and vexe vs: but wee must looke a great way farther: to witte, vnto Satan, who by such assaultes & cōbattes goeth about al hee can too ouerthrowe our sayth,