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…

But in the first place he remembereth God of all the benefits which he had already received from him. For that it which must give us trust and confidence, when as we come to make any prayer unto God. And in deed there is nothing in the world which giveth us a better access, nor that doth more readily assure us to be heard, then when we behold his benefits bestowed upon us. And how must that be? Thus must every man consider with him self and say, I have found heretofore by experience the bounty of my God: yea, I have had as great proof hereof, as is possible. And therefore it were unreasonable that I should mistrust him, and stand in any doubt that he would not now grant me that which I desire of him: considering that I have so good a proof of his love, that he is always ready, liberally to bestow upon me his benefits. When then I shall have received so many benefits of him, should I now think with my self, how is it possible that this thing should come to pass? to wit, that I should obtain that which I am about to pray for? If we shall stand in this doubt, we shall do God great wrong, and show our great unthankfulness unto him: for he never doth us any good, but it is to this end and purpose, that we should be partakers of his mercy and grace, which he will continue unto us even to the end: for he is never weary in liberally bestowing his benefits upon us, as men are wont when as they bestow bountifully of any, and by & by pluck their heads again quite out of the collar. But God is no such manner of one, he is a well that can never be drawn dry. Lo then whereunto this tendeth which is here spoken in the first verse: O Lord, thou hast dealt graciously with thy servant, David spake not this to the end to measure him self, that he would have God never hereafter to bestow any moe ⟨p. 73⟩benefits upon him: But clean contrary, that because he had had already so great experience of the grace of God, he was fully resolved, that he should also feel his benefits too come. For God is no changeling: and as I have already said, his grace is never lessened, but he will always increase it towards us.

But in the first place he remembreth God of all the benefites which he had already receiued from him. For that it which must giue vs trust and confidence, when as wee come to make any prayer vnto God. And in deede there is nothing in the world which giueth vs a better accesse, nor that doth more readily assure vs to be heard, then when we beholde his benefites bestowed vpon vs. And howe must that bee? Thus must euery man consider with him selfe and say, I haue found heretofore by experience the bountie of my God: yea, I haue had as great prouse hereof, as is possible. And therefore it were vnreasonable that I shoulde mistrust him, and stande in any doubt that he would not now graunt me that which I desire of him: considering that I haue so good a proufe of his loue, that he is alwayes ready, liberally to bestowe vpon mee his benefites. When then I shall haue receiued so many benefites of him, should I now thinke with my selfe, howe is it possible that this thing should come to passe? to witte, that I should obtaine that which I am about to praye for? If wee shall stande in this doubt, we shall do God great wrong, and shewe our great vnthankefulnesse vnto him: for he neuer doth vs any good, but it is to this ende and purpose, that we should be partakers of his mercie and grace, which hee will continue vnto vs euen to the ende: for he is neuer wearie in liberally bestowing his benefits vpon vs, as mē are wont when as they bestow bountifully of any, and by & by plucke their heads againe quite out of the coller. But God is no such maner of one, he is a well that can neuer be drawne drie. Loe then whereunto this tendeth which is here spoken in the first verse: O Lorde, thou hast dealt gratiously with thy seruant, Dauid spake not this to the ende to measure him selfe, that he would haue God neuer hereafter to bestowe any moe