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 protesteth as before, that he had such a resolute affection to follow the word of God, as that no temptations could withdraw him from it. And see how we may say, that we serve God, without hypocrisy & in truth. For if we be easily and gently dealt withal, so we have no affliction, that our God handleth us as we would wish, & leaveth us to our own pleasure, or else, if he so much favoureth us, as that we are not pressed with any griefs and sorrows: it is an easy matter then for us too serve and honour him. But when God afflicteth us, that it seemeth he would oppress and grieve us every minute of an hour, when we see death pursuing us on every side, that the ungodly are wholly about us, as it were ready to pull out our eyes, and our life so wretched; as that the world judgeth us to be as it were reprobates: when then all these temptations shall touch us, and yet we remain still constant praising of God, and holding us unto him, persevering in his obedience, and calling upon him, being patient in all our afflictions, until such time as he delivereth us: when we have all this, we may then say with David, that we have displayed and laid wide open our life to serve God: and this shall be a good and sure proof thereof. But if we have not this constancy, a great number may make a wonderful show of godliness before the face of the world, but all that shall prove nothing. And so, let us well consider of this place: for David spake not this for him self, but for our common instruction. And besides, if we will in deed profit our selves by this doctrine, let us consider that if we sometimes see the apparent dangers of death, so that we be pressed down on every side, not to think it to be any strange thing. And why so? Because the same came too pass as greatly sometimes to David. For he sayeth that he was not without continual trouble. My soul (sayeth he) is always in my hand: ⟨p. 119⟩my life is as it were I can not tell where, it is put forth to abide all mischief, that it seemeth I were at deaths door every minute of an hour. If David was always thus troubled, and yet persevered in the praising of God: I beseech you ought not we to be ashamed to be faint hearted, when as it shall please God to exercise us only but now and then?

Here Dauid protesteth as before, that he had such a resolute affection to followe the woorde of God, as that no temptations could withdrawe him from it. And see how we may say, that we serue God, without hypocrisie & in truth. For if we be easily and gently dealte withall, so we haue no affliction, that our God handleth vs as wee would wishe, & leaueth vs to our owne pleasure, or els, if he so much fauoureth vs, as that we are not pressed with any griefes and sorrowes: it is an easy matter then for vs too serue and honour him. But when God afflicteth vs, that it seemeth hee would oppresse and grieue vs euery minute of an houre, when we see death pursuing vs on euery side, that the vngodly are wholy about vs, as it were ready to pull out our eyes, and our life so wretched; as that the world iudgeth vs to be as it were reprobates: when then al these temptations shall touch vs, and yet we remaine still constant praysing of God, and holding vs vnto him, perseuering in his obedience, and calling vpon him, beeing patient in all our afflictions, vntill such time as he deliuereth vs: when we haue all this, we may then say with Dauid, that we haue displaied and layde wide open our life to serue God: and this shall be a good and sure profe thereof. But if we haue not this constancie, a great number may make a wonderfull shewe of godlinesse before the face of the worlde, but all that shall proue nothing. And so, let vs well consider of this place: for Dauid spake not this for him selfe, but for our common instruction. And besides, if we will in deede profit our selues by this doctrine, let vs consider that if we sometimes see the apparaunt dangers of death, so that wee be pressed downe on euery side, not to thinke it to be any strange thing. And why so? Bicause the same came too passe as greatly sometimes to Dauid. For he saieth that he was not without continuall trouble. My soule (saieth he) is alwaies in my hand: