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 when he sayeth, that he was made wiser and had more understanding then his enemies, he meaneth that he had so excellent a knowledge, as that God would not suffer him to fall into the ambushes & privy engines which the ungodly had laid for him, suddenly to be entrapped & ⟨image 115⟩caught by their subtle trains and policies. Lo already a wonderful profit which we receive by the word of God, that although we be encompassed with the wicked which seek nothing but our destruction, when as we do think that we should perish every minute of an hour, yet that we shall be guarded from all whatsoever, that they may any way attempt and privily lay in wait against us, so that we be instructed in the word of God.

Nowe when he sayeth, that hee was made wyser and had more vnderstanding then his enemies, hee meaneth that hee had so excellēt a knowledge, as that God would not suffer him to fall into the ambushes & priuie engines which the vngodly had layde for him, suddenly to bee entrapped & ⟨image 115⟩caught by their subtill traines and pollicies. Loe already a wonderfull profit which we receiue by the worde of God, that although wee be encompassed with the wicked which seeke nothing but our destruction, when as wee doe thinke that we should perishe euery minute of an houre, yet that we shall bee guarded from all whatsoeuer, that they may any way attempt and priuily laye in wayte against vs, so that we be instructed in the worde of God.

Lo, say I, an inestimable treasure: but we must consider who they be that are our enemies. For we have not only to do with men which seek our hurt, dishonour, or that which might grieve us as touching this present life: but we have Satan, and all his favourers and maintainers, which are deadly enemies too our souls, who seek nothing else but our destruction: yea, not only as concerning the world, but to withdraw us clean away from the kingdom of God. Now it is very sure, that when the word of God shall remain and continue with us, that we shall have wisdom enough too defend and keep us from all such enemies. We are then throughly too way this saying: too wit, that if we apply the word of God to our own use, after that we have been instructed therein, we may be sure to walk in safety and without danger. And how so? Because God will preserve us against all our enemies: for although Satan pitcheth his nets to take us, notwithstanding all the marvellous policies of men, yea notwithstanding all our own crafts and deceits whereunto we are sufficiently enough inclined of our selves, yet cannot we be assailed nor shaken, either on the one side or on the other: but shall be well fenced, when as God shall hold us with his hand, and that we suffer our selves to be governed by him. And besides our souls shall not only be preserved, but also whatsoever we have to do in this world: neither shall our enemies be ever able to hurt us, when as we shall have been throughly instructed. It is very true, it shall not be other wise, but that they will molest us: as we see the faithful to be greatly troubled and vexed through the wicked and ungodly: