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 here we are to note this circumstance, that David doth not only say, that he was grieved by one man alone, ne yet by two or three, but he sayeth, The congregation of the wicked. When he sayeth, The whole congregation, this is very much: if there had been but a small number, it had been enough: But he sayeth, The whole congregation, signifying that he was assailed on every side, that he was like a sheep among Wolves, Lyons, Bears, and other wild beasts of ravine: and yet for all that, that he always put his trust in the Lord.

And here we are to note this circumstance, that Dauid doth not onely saye, that he was greued by one man alone, ne yet by two or three, but he sayeth, The congregation of the wicked. When he sayeth, The whole congregation, this is very much: if there had beene but a small number, it had beene enough: But he sayeth, The whole congregation, signifying that he was assayled on euery side, that he was like a sheepe amonge Wolues, Lyons, Beares, and other wilde beastes of rauyne: and yet for all that, that he always put his trust in the Lorde.

Now if we shall look well into our selves, how few shall we see which have not been overcome with the least temptation that hath come unto them? there shall need but one man to oppose him self against us, and lo we are by and by carried to do wickedly, now we know not that this cometh from God. To be short, the least fly which flieth before our eyes (as we say) is even enough to turn us quite out of the right way. And surely we may be greatly ashamed so suddenly to change our copy: where before we made great show of following of God, and by and by to go clean against the hair. And we think this may be a most lawful excuse, when as we can handle the matter thus, to say, that we were carried to do wickedly through some ten tation. It is so far of that this excuse should go for payment, as that it is neither worth ware nor money. But we must say with David, yea and that truly as he hath done, That whensoever the whole congregation of the wicked shall assail us, let us not cease to persevere and continue in the law of God. And namely he sayeth, That they have robbed him, which is yet the most grievous and sharp thing that can come to a man, and which might soonest make him to quail. For it may be that the wicked will go about to molest us, and yet come not to the end of their enterprise: but David saith, that he was put out for a pray, that he was as a wretched forlorn creature, and assailed on every side: and yet that he forgot not the law of God. And in so saying, it is as if he should have protested and said, that he had always