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…

For although we very well know, that the judgements of God are right, to wit, in such sort as that our wits and minds might thereby be confirmed, that we might judge it to be so: yet it so standeth nevertheless, that behold our lusts and passions, do violently withstand God, and are ever against him. As how? An whoremonger shall be vanquished that his whoredom is wicked and abominable. A drunkard shall condemn his drunkenness: and shall never be able to say, that the vice whereunto he is given is a virtue. And so much may be said of the swearer and thief. But yet it is so, that such kind of people cannot give God the glory, saying, that his law is right: For they murmur against him and are very angry, that they have not the reins of the bridle laid in their neck, and giveth them not all the liberty that may be too do what them selves list. No doubt of it, if it lay in their power, they would pluck GOD out of his seat, that he might have no authority over them. Lo what mens affections and desires are. So then, we shall find a very small number of people to be like unto David, which will say in trueth and without hypocrisy, I know O Lord that thy judgements are right. When he saith, that he hath known, he meaneth ⟨p. 84⟩that he hath gotten new understanding which he never had before, as if he had said, I have O Lord profited so much, that I have clean given over mine own wit and reason. For I know it to be blind, because that men will always lift up them selves above measure. But now O Lord, thou hast brought me to this point, that I will no longer be governed by mine own head and fantasy: I will not trust to my self to know whether the matter shall be good or not, but I will rest me on that which thou sayest unto me. And thus much for the first point.

For although wee very well knowe, that the iudgementes of God are right, to wit, in such sorte as that our wittes and mindes might thereby be confirmed, that we might iudge it to be so: yet it so standeth neuerthelesse, that beholde our lustes and passions, doe violently withstand God, and are euer against him. As howe? An whoremonger shall be vanquished that his whoredome is wicked and abhominable. A drunkarde shall condemne his drunkennesse: and shal neuer be able to say, that the vice wherevnto he is giuen is a vertue. And so much may bee sayde of the swearer and theefe. But yet it is so, that such kinde of people cannot giue God the glory, saying, that his lawe is right: For they murmure against him and are very angry, that they haue not the raynes of the bridle layde in their neck, and giueth them not all the lybertie that may bee too doe what them selues list. No doubt of it, if it lay in their power, they would plucke GOD out of his seate, that hee might haue no authoritie ouer them. Loe what mens affections and desires are. So then, we shall finde a very small number of people to be like vnto Dauid, which wil say in trueth and without hypocrisie, I knowe O Lorde that thy iudgementes are right. When hee sayth, that he hath knowen, he meaneth