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…

I am horribly afraid for the ungodly which forsake thy law.

I am horribly afrayd for the vngodly which forsake thy lawe.

Here David protesteth that he hath resisted another temptation over and besides that which we have already seen. This is already a very sore and hard combat too abide, when as the wicked mock and scorn us, as if God had deceived us, as if we had bin too too simple & foolish to put our trust in him. Lo here a great trouble for miserable and wretched weaklings, yea and that such as it cannot be chosen, but that they must (at the least) be moved and astonied. But this temptation which here followeth is none of the least to overcome: as when we see all the ⟨image 67⟩whole world addicted and given to wickedness, that what soever we do, is as it were to conspire & to lay a platform to provoke God his wrath, to distrust him, to reject all his graces, and to tread them clean under foot. When then we shall see men so estrange them selves from God, even to make open war against him, it goeth very hardly, if we be not as it were utterly overcome. And yet nevertheless it is, as David here protesteth: that it is so far of that he gave him self wickedly, seeing the corruptions to be such as they were all over, as that he was horribly afraid for the ungodly which so forsook the law of God. Wherefore, let us learn to be thus horribly afraid, so often as we see men exceed in wickedness: Let us learn, I say, too have recourse unto God, and as it were in gathering our wits unto us, that we might conceive an horror & fear, when as we see such monsters, and such things so committed against nature. If this hath been always a necessary doctrine, it is at this day most necessary: for let us a little behold what a general confusion there is, when as we shall see the order and doings of the Papists, we shall find it to be a most hellish outrage. And amongst us alas, where the word of God should be of greater power and force, yet we see how the more part will not only alter and change the law of God, but desire nothing more then even utterly to abolish it. What is to be done then? It is not enough that we follow not the wicked and ungodly in their impiety, and not to link in with them as their companions, but we must be horribly afraid, because we know that they must perish as miserable & wretched creatures: & therefore we should be grieved and vexed: