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 although we are not without a great number of vices, yet is this one of the greatest, that we do not only so oftentimes suffer the benefits of God to escape out of our minds, but we are also so wicked, as that we desire nothing more then for to bury them: we think we should have ⟨p. 102⟩never time enough utterly to forget them. See, I say, the state and condition of our vile and corrupt nature. And therefore, David in this place protesteth, that he will never forget the commandments of God, because he hath bin quickened by them. And moreover, he speaketh it not only for him self, but showeth unto us by his example, what our office & duty is. When God then shall have thus aided us in our afflictions, that he shall have raised us up even from the grave through the might and power of his word, and that we shall feel such a benefit, let us never forget it, but be always mindful thereof. And yet David meaneth to show unto us a farther point: to wit, that because the word of God hath already profited him, that he will esteem of it and have it in great price for the time to come. Knowing that it is is not for a time only, that we must be preserved and comforted by the word of God, but for ever and ever. This might seem for us to be very obscure, were it not declared unto us more at large. See now then what David his meaning is. If a man be as it were cast down, not tasting of the promises of God, and when it shall be laid before him, that although God afflict his children yet that he doth it not utterly to overthrow & destroy them: but to the end to call them to repentance, that afterward they might feel his merciful goodness. If a man then be thus admonished by the word of God, it may be, that this admonition will serve him to no purpose, because he him self seeketh not after the remedy which is set before him, and so is made void of this con fort which is here touched, and by that mean the power of the word of God turneth into all evil to himward. What is then to be done? Let us mark well that which David here speaketh, that he will never forget the commandments of God, because he hath bin quickened by them.

Now although wee are not without a great number of vices, yet is this one of the greatest, that we doe not onely so oftentimes suffer the benefites of God to escape out of our mindes, but we are also so wicked, as that we desire nothing more then for to burie thē: we thinke we should haue ⟨p. 102⟩