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…

Now it is so, that he being in such conflicts, having to fight against these two temptations, which I have noted, showeth right well that he remained still conqueror. And see why he saith, How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou be avenged of them that persecute me? David signifieth that he made not this request until such time as he was driven too this extremity, that he was no longer able to abide it. As if he should have said, Alas, my good God, wilt thou help me after I am dead? For thou seest that I have already abidden so much, as it is not possible to endure more: thou seest me even at the graves brink: It is now time, or else never to help. But yet I perceive no succour coming from thee. And what is the cause? When wilt thou do it? It cannot be chosen but that David had as it were an intolerable affliction, when he called upon God in this manner. Wherefore we are so much the rather to meditate on this place. For although God suffereth us to be afflicted but for a little while: yet the same lasteth so with us, as that we being vexed even to the uttermost, will say, I know not where I am, nor what to do herein. What is the cause why God deferreth his aid so long? For in stead too call upon him, it is out of doubt rather that we murmur, yea and moyte as it were secretly against him. Now the right remedy to overcome these temptations, & not so to murmur against God in our afflictions, is this, to call upon him ⟨image 101⟩with full assurance, beseeching him to grant us his grace, that notwithstanding all the afflictions which he layeth upon us, yet that he leave us not for all that too hope after that which he hath promised us. And this is it which David declareth yet more fully, when after he had said, that the ungodly had gone about to dig pits for him, which is not after his law, he addeth, and saith,

Now it is so, that he beeing in such conflictes, hauing to fight against these two temptations, which I haue noted, sheweth right wel that he remained stil conqueror. And see why he sayth, How many are the dayes of thy seruant? when wilt thou be auenged of thē that persecute me? Dauid signifieth that he made not this request vntill such time as hee was driuen too this extremitie, that he was no longer able to abide it. As if he should haue sayde, Alas, my good God, wilte thou helpe me after I am deade? For thou seest that I haue already abidden so much, as it is not possible to indure more: thou seest me euen at the graues brinke: It is now time, or else neuer to helpe. But yet I perceiue no succour comming from thee. And what is the cause? When wilte thou doe it? It cannot bee chosen but that Dauid had as it were an intollerable affliction, when he called vpon God in this manner. Wherefore we are so much the rather to meditate on this place. For although God suffereth vs to be afflicted but for a little while: yet the same lasteth so with vs, as that we beeing vexed euen to the vttermoste, will say, I knowe not where I am, nor what to doe heerein. What is the cause why God deferreth his ayde so long? For in steade too call vpon him, it is out of doubt rather that we murmure, yea and moyte as it were secretly against him. Nowe the right remedy to ouercome these temptations, & not so to murmur against God in our afflictions, is this, to call vpon him