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 surely there is not one verse in all this Psalm (although there are very many) wherein there is not mention made of one of these words, too wit, either of the law of God, or of his Commandments, either else of his Ordinances, Statutes, or Testimonies, or of his voice, Judgements, or Justice. These words are here so many times repeated, as that there is not one verse, but that there is one or sometimes two of them in it: as hereafter we shall see throughout the whole Psalm▪

And surely there is not one verse in all this Psalme (although there are very many) wherein there is not mention made of one of these wordes, too witte, either of the lawe of God, or of his Commaundementes, either else of his Ordinaunces, Statutes, or Testimonyes, or of his voice, Iudgementes, or Iustice. These wordes are heere so many times repeated, as that there is not one verse, but that there is one or sometimes twoo of them in it: as heereafter wee shall see throughout the whole Psalme▪

And now let us come to the matter herein contained: Blessed are they which keep the Testimonies of the Lord: and which seek him with their whole heart. First David declareth here (as afore said) that we have greatly profited in the law, when as we shall acknowledge and confess what affection and love God beareth us, and how we ought ⟨p. 5⟩to assure our selves of his good will and fatherly love. And afterward he telleth us to what end and purpose it is, that God granteth unto us such an assurance, because (saith he) we should seek him. For this is most sure, when as we shall understand God to be such a one, as he declareth himself unto us by his word, it is impossible but that we should stir up our selves, and be moved to give our selves wholly unto him. And to prove that this is true, behold the inestimable bounty and goodness declared unto us in our God, what man is he that is so perverse and void of sense and reason, which will not be contented to place him self there, where he thinketh his whole blessedness and felicity consisteth and lieth. Even so likewise, when as become careless in seeking after the Lord our God, it is a sign and token that we have understood nothing of that which he hath showed unto us of his goodness and mercy, and of all his fatherly affection, which is witnessed unto us in the law, and in the holy scriptures. But because it shall be no great ado for a number of men, to make a countenance of seeking the Lord, David showeth that we must not seek him with our feet and hands, with the outward gestures of the body alone, but with a true and pure affection. And therefore, he sayeth, Blessed are they which seek him with their whole heart. As if he should say, I would not have you to do as the hypocrites do, which bear of religion with strong hand, no, I mean not so: but I would have your love to be sound and true. As touching that saying, With their whole heart, it is to declare unto us, That God cannot away with parting of stakes, as we men many times do: For we are well contented to bestow some part upon God, and would be at free liberty to hold us with the world, and to serve God by halves. But David teacheth us here to serve him with our whole heart: to wit, in all integrity and soundness, and not with two faces in one hood.