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…

To be short, before we enter into all the particular prayers which we make unto God, let us begin at this end, and let it be the foundation whereon we must build: That God hath pity and compassion upon us. Now because we should be assured in our prayers, David addeth this which heal ready before said to wit, according too thy word: For if we desire of God that which seemeth good in our own eyes, and that we have not his promise, that he will hear us, this cometh of presumption: and therefore we must come humbly and soberly with our Prayers, and not after a wandering and careless manner, neither must we come before God with shameless face, and boldelyer then we would come before men: but too come unto him in such modest and sober manner: as that nothing escape our mouths without good warrant, which thing we are not able too do, except we be assured that all our Prayers are according to his hearts desire, and that he alloweth, and ratifieth them. And how shall this be done? When as he shall have said, that we should not follow our own brain, giving the reins too our own wits: but that when God shall say, Lo what I would have you to crave of me, come unto me, and make your requests in this sort: O, according too those promises of God, we may assure our selves to come unto him after the example of David and say, O Lord be merciful unto me ⟨p. 66⟩according to thy word. And this is an holy presumption, and such one, as God alloweth. Now we ought the better to note this doctrine, when we see that it hath not only been obscured and darkened in the world, but also utterly made void: As at this day it is in Popery, for when they pray unto God, they pray at all adventure. And especially, this is one of the points that the Papists strive most about, that we must not assure our selves (when we pray unto God) that he heareth us: but remain in suspense. Forsooth, but the scripture telleth us that it is not possible that the man which is thus floating, as the waves which are tossed with the wind and tempest, should obtain any thing. It telleth us that when we come unto God, that we must come with faith, hope and boldness.

To bee shorte, before wee enter into all the particular prayers which wee make vntof God, let vs beginne at this ende, and let it be the foundation whereon we must build: That God hath pittie and compassion vpon vs. Now because we should be assured in our prayers, Dauid addeth this which heal ready before sayde to witte, according too thy word: For if we desire of God that which seemeth good in our owne eyes, and that wee haue not his promise, that hee will heare vs, this commeth of presumption: and therefore wee muste come humbly and soberly with our Prayers, and not after a wandering and carelesse manner, neither must wee come before God with shamelesse face, and boldelyer then we woulde come before men: but too come vnto him in such modeste and sober manner: as that nothing escape our mouthes without good warrant, which thing wee are not able too doe, except wee bee assured that all our Prayers are according to his heartes desire, and that he alloweth, and ratifieth them. And how shall this be doone? When as he shall haue sayde, that wee shoulde not followe our owne braine, giuing the raines too our owne wittes: but that when God shal say, Loe what I would haue you to craue of mee, come vntoo mee, and make your requestes in this sorte: O, according too those promises of God, we may assure our selues to come vnto him after the example of Dauid and say, O Lorde bee mercifull vnto mee