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 God giveth us a very good mean if we will take it, which is, to build and settle our selves upon his word. And for this cause it is,¹ that the Prophet Isaiah saith. That the word of God endureth for ever: He had spoken before of the frailty and fickleness of men, as that nothing could be more: & although it might seem that there was some strength in them, it is yet incontinent clean parched and dried up, that it vanisheth away into less then nothing: But he concludeth and saith, That the word of God abideth for ever. So then, see the mean, how that men (although they be transitory, and have constancy at all in them) shall notwithstanding have a perfect constancy, and sure estate: to wit, when as they shall stay themselves upon the trueth of God and his word. According to this, it is here said, Thy word O Lord abideth for ever in heaven. Some expound this, as if it had been said, That because the heavens have continued long, they render a good testimony of the trueth of God. But here David namely speaketh of the heavens because we see by them a more manifest sign of the Majesty of God then we see here below on earth. And in deed in that we are rude and earthly, we had need to have God to guide us, and too lift up our minds when that he would have us to think on him: too the end we might forget the world, & all the corruptible things here beneath. See then the reason why David in this ⟨p. 98⟩maketh the seat and house of the word of God in heaven▪ because we had need to look a great deal more higher then into our own senses, when we would comprehend how God is true and faithful. When we would feel the certainty and assurance of his word, we must enter into a more deep consideration, then our sense is able too bear, and not look so into the visible thing, or into that which we conceive on earth.

Nowe God giueth vs a very good meane if we will take it, which is, to builde and settle our selues vpon his word. And for this cause it is,¹ that the Prophet Esaiah sayth. That the worde of God indureth for euer: Hee had spoken before of the frailtie and ficklenesse of men, as that nothing could be more: & although it might seeme that there was some strength in them, it is yet incontinent cleane parched and dryed vpp, that it vanisheth away into lesse then nothing: But he concludeth and sayth, That the woorde of God abideth for euer. So then, see the meane, howe that men (although they be transitory, and haue constancie at all in them) shall notwithstanding haue a perfect constancy, and sure estate: to witte, when as they shall stay themselues vpon the trueth of God and his worde. According to this, it is heere sayd, Thy worde O Lorde abideth for euer in heauen. Some expounde this, as if it had beene sayde, That because the heauens haue continued long, they render a good testimony of the trueth of God. But heere Dauid namely speaketh of the heauēs because we see by them a more manifest signe of the Maiestie of God then we see here belowe on earth. And in deede in that we are rude and earthly, we had neede to haue God to guide vs, and too lifte vpp our mindes when that he would haue vs to thinke on him: too the ende we might forget the world, & all the corruptible things heere beneath. See thē the reason why Dauid in this