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…

Here David teacheth us, that they which are desirous to serve God and to stick to his word, are never without afflictions. But what is then to be done? We must be of a good courage to withstand all the temptations which Satan can any way assail us with, to withdraw & turn us from that which is good. I have saith he refrained my feet from every evil way. And had David need of this? he that was an holy Prophet, yea, and such a one as we see the holy Scripture too have reigned in, even from his youth: He then having received so excellent graces of God, being a mirror of all perfection, was it needful that he should keep him self from every evil way? It should seem that he was already utterly past going any evil way: Yea, but because he was a mortal man, he was not for all that without being encompassed with many vices and evil lusts against which he was to fight. And in deed, we see how God suffered David to fall once so grievously, as that his fall ought to be an horror unto us all.

Heere Dauid teacheth vs, that they which are desirous to serue God and to stick to his worde, are neuer without afflictions. But what is then to be doone? We must be of a good courage to withstand all the temptations which Satan can any way assayle vs with, to withdraw & turne vs frō that which is good. I haue sayth he refrayned my feete from euery euill way. And had Dauid neede of this? hee that was an holy Prophet, yea, and such a one as wee see the holy Scripture too haue reigned in, euen from his youth: Hee then hauing receiued so excellent graces of God, beeing a mirror of all perfection, was it needefull that hee shoulde keepe him selfe frō euery euill way? It should seeme that he was alredy vtterly past going any euil way: Yea, but because he was a mortall man, he was not for all that without beeing incompassed with many vices and euill lustes againste which he was to fight. And in deede, we see how God suffred Dauid to fall once so greeuously, as that his fall ought to be an horrour vnto vs all.

Moreover, let us well consider, that if it was needful for David too fight against the temptations which might ⟨p. 111⟩withdraw him from the right way, and that he was with much to do, turned away from evil ways to serve God: every of us verily ought a great deal more too enforce our selves: For we are nothing so forwards as he was. For if he hath gone on an hundred paces, we have hardly gone on that way three or four. So much the more then ought we rightly to practise this doctrine, when it is said, that we ought to refrain our feet from every evil way. And too do this, let us a little behold how naturally we are inclined to wickedness. We need never once too remove our arms, legs, head, nor any thing else within us to do wickedly: For we are altogether given thereto. And besides, we are as it were upon the ice. I pray you tell me, when a man is not able to hold himself up, that he shall have neither feet, nor legs, but that all shall tremble and be afraid, and shall be set upon the ice, and in a steep place, how is it possible for that man to hold him self up? In like sort is it with us: for first & foremost there is nothing in us but debility and weakness: & besides, what is our life in this world? Have we any firm or certain place to hold or stay us in? We are always upon the ice, considering the temptations which assail us on every side. And David also useth this similitude in another place: and yet this is not all, that we are upon the Ice: but the place is also steep too bring us downward. The more therefore have we need too pray unto God, that he will strengthen us, to the end we be not overcome of the evil: For otherwise, we shall never come to that end and perfection, constantly too abide by his word.