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…

It followeth, Then should I not be confounded, when I have respect to all thy commandments. Here David confirmeth him self in the doctrine next before: for he declareth what the mark is whereat he aimeth. O Lord, sayeth he, when as thou shalt do me that good, that I may be directed according to thy word▪ I shall never be con founded. When David now hath such a desire, he there by right well declareth, that every man ought to be careful & to endeavour himself thereunto, or else he shall never obey the will of God, considering that there are so many gainsayings in our flesh & nature, as is most pitiful to think upon. For look how many our affections & thoughts are, we have even so many enemies rebelling against God, and which hinder us to walk after his will. We ought therefore to pray unto him that he will hold us in, that he may be our master, & we his vassals. Moreover, let us consider well of that which is here spoken, to wit, that in keeping the commandments of God, we shall never be confounded. By this he doth us to understand that so many as follow their own lusts & fantasies, which look this way & that way, ⟨image 13⟩and do imagine them selves a mark, & forge them selves such away as seemeth good in their own sight, that they shall be confounded and deceived. No doubt when men do that which best liketh them selves, they straightways think all things shall go so well with them as is possible to be wished, glorying in their own vain imaginations: but what followeth thereof? God confoundeth them in their own arrogance wherewith they were puffed up for a time: Would we eschew this confusion of the unbelieving persons? Let us have an eye to the commandments of God: to wit, let our eyes be settled on them, and look not on our own reason, nor of our natural sense, neither yet of any other thing that lieth in our own power, which may turn us away from them. And it is a necessary point for us to be informed thereof. For as often as men will give them selves leave to imagine and think what they list to have done, there shall a thousand thoughts for close their minds, and so will turn them away from God, and wholly estrange them from the doctrine of salvation.

It followeth, Then should I not bee confounded, when I haue respect to all thy commaundementes. Here Dauid confirmeth him selfe in the doctrine next before: for hee declareth what the marke is whereat he aymeth. O Lorde, sayeth hee, when as thou shalt doe me that good, that I may be directed according to thy word I shal neuer be cō founded. When Dauid now hath such a desire, he there by right well declareth, that euery man ought to be careful & to endeuour himself therūto, or els he shall neuer obey the will of God, cōsidering that there are so many gainsayings in our flesh & nature, as is most pitifull to thinke vpon. For looke how many our affections & thoughtes are, we haue euen so many enemies rebelling against God, and which hinder vs to walke after his will. Wee ought therefore to praye vnto him that he will holde vs in, that he may be our maister, & we his vassails. Moreouer, let vs consider wel of that which is here spoken, to weete, that in keeping the c̄omaundementes of God, we shall neuer be confounded. By this he doth vs to vnderstād that so many as followe their owne lustes & fantasies, which looke this way & that way,