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…

SAMECH. I hare vain inventions: but thy law do I love. Thou art my refuge and my shield: and I trust in thy word. Away from me ye wicked: for I will keep the commandments of my God. Stablish me according too thy promise that I may live: and let me not be disappointed of my hope. Hold thou me up and I shall be safe: yea and my delight shall be continually in thy statutes. Thou hast trodden down all them that depart from thy statutes: for their deceit is vain: Thou hast taken away all the ungodly of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies. My flesh trembleth for fear of thee. and I am afraid of thy judgements.

SAMECH. I hare vaine inuentions: but thy lawe do I loue. Thou art my refuge and my shield: and I trust in thy worde. Away from me yee wicked: for I wil keepe the cō maundementes of my God. Stablish mee according too thy promise that I may liue: and let me not be disappointed of my hope. Hold thou me vp and I shall be saufe: yea and my delight shalbe continually in thy statutes. Thou hast troden downe all them that depart from thy statutes: for their deceipt is vayne: Thou hast taken away all the vngodly of the earth like drosse: therefore I loue thy testimonies. My flesh trembleth for feare of thee. and I am afraid of thy iudgementes.

WE have so many lets and stops both from above and here beneath which draw us on to do wickedly, or at least wise which cause us too slack our serving of GOD, that which soever of us that is minded to do well, must remove from him all his wicked & evil affections, and all the temptations, which any way may come against him. See then why David in this place, meaning to protest that he loved the law of God, sayeth to the contrary, that he ⟨p. 122⟩hated high enterprises, or rather wicked and crooked imaginations, evil considerations. For the word which is here touched, signifieth a bough or branch: and by a similitude taketh it for the evil and wicked imaginations and devises of men which, run this and that way. Now we see what a bottomless depth the spirit of man is, and how he wreatheth or windeth him self in his fantasies. This self same word signifieth, the very height and top either of an hie hill, house, or any other hie thing. And thereupon also as by a similitude, the imaginative conceits of men, when as they intend to bring them selves into credit, and go about to advance them selves, even as ambition ruleth our nature, until such time as God hath tamed us by his holy spirit, and humbled and made us gentle and meek. And now that we may have the true and natural meaning of this place, let us see in effect, that David protesting that he loved the law of God, sayeth, that he removed quite from him whatsoever might withdraw him from it. Now he speaketh not this here to the end to brag of him self: but rather that this example should be for our better instruction. For the spirit of God hath spoken it by his mouth to the end we might understand and know, which is the mean whereby we might be wholly given to the service of God, and to take hold of the law with such an affection, as that our hearts might be as it were even fast tied thereto. For it is impossible, I say, that we should ever come or attain unto it, until such time as we have clean cut of the things which withdraw and turn us away both on the one side and the other: to wit, all our own fantasies and lusts: we must thrust out from us all whatsoever, for the love which we ought to bear to the law of God :we must also forget all haughtiness or pride, yea even studying how too separate our selves from those which any way might draw us too evil: