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…

He continueth his purpose: but he showeth that this his affection was not slow, I made haste (saith he) yea and that without delay. Now it is not without cause, that David putteth to this: for we see how straightly we ought too deal against our own appetites: yea even they I say, who are best affected to serve god, do yet come as it were halting, trailing either an arm or a leg after them, as we commonly say. And what is the cause hereof? We carry about with us such a number of corruptions, as that the very weight of them maketh us to go exceeding slowly so that we have much to do to go on. And we know, and have too too great experience, how weak our nature is, when as we intend to do well.

He continueth his purpose: but he sheweth that this his affection was not slowe, I made haste (sayth he) yea and that without delay. Nowe it is not without cause, that Dauid putteth to this: for we see howe straightly wee oughte too deale against our owne appetites: yea euen they I say, who are best affected to serue god, do yet com as it were halting, trayling either an arme or a leg after them, as wee cōmonly say. And what is the cause heereof? We carry about with vs such a number of corruptions, as that the very weight of them maketh vs to goe exceding slowly so that we haue much to doe to go on. And we know, and haue too too greate experience, howe weake our nature is, when as wee intende to doe well.

Let us then understand and know these two things, and we shall never think it strange, that we are so slow and slack to follow God as in deed we are: yea even these two things (I say.) For behold, Satan will never cease craftily to go about to imagine whatsoever he possibly can to cause us to draw back, he will set bars and pitch Hayes before us, he will lay Bushes, Thorns and evil favoured stumbling ⟨image 73⟩blocks whatsoever which any way may hinder and let us: that if we mean to march on but only three paces, we shall be violently carried away to turn on this side and on that, not knowing what shall become of us. Again, we shall be solicited and moved by our inordinate appetites, to draw us clean awry. For if we will wholly put our trust in God, the Devil will draw us too the contrary and make us to give our selves up too this worldly pelf, and so consequently to all the rest. Seeing then, that we are drawn and haled with so many Cart ropes, yea and are of our selves so feeble to do good, even burning after wickedness: Alas, no marvel though we be slow too follow God, but yet for all that we must needed fight. It is no question but that we flatter our selves, when as we see such slackness in our selves and say, in deed it is very true such is the state & condition of our nature, and again our infirmities are so great as that it is an impossible thing for any man too discharge himself as he ought. O deer brethren, let us not build upon such a foundation, but let us fight against our vices, and take and get unto us strength and courage, against all the stumbling blocks and ambushes which Satan shall lay against us, that we may break all the bands and Cords wherewith he holdeth us bound. See I say how we ought to do in this case. For, let us not think but that David was a man, passionate as we are, and felt in himself great infirmities: neither made he protestation of this in vain, when he saith, that he hasted and made no delay to do the Commandments of God. And so let us haste, after his example, when God speaketh, and let us bow down our ears to hear him, and lift up our foot to obey that which he shall say unto us.