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…

But I have already showed, that the principal matter which God declareth unto us in his word, is this, that he protesteth how well he loveth us in alluring us unto him self, to the end we should not doubt, but that he will be our father in all and through all, and that we should be bold to come before him: that when there is any question of our salvation, and of whatsoever else we have need off, we should not doubt but that he is ready to hear all our prayers, that his hand is always liberally bent, to the end ⟨image 131⟩to give us whatsoever we want. When we shall once know this to be true, then, as I have already said, the word of God shall be pleasant unto us. Lo now why David by & by addeth, My trust is in thy word, O Lord. This is also, in sum, our faith, which bringeth us to the obedience of God when I say that it is faith which bringeth us into the obedience of God. I mean, that after we have understood of his good will, that we are then stirred up to yield our selves unto him. And until such time as he hath imprinted in our hearts the testimony of his love, and the benefit which he meaneth unto us, we shall fly from him as much as may be: and as often as this word of God shall sound in our ears, so often shall it grieve and torment us, as we see how the faithless do fear, when the word of God is spoken unto them: it bringeth unto them nothing but terror and fear, as if a thief or murderer were brought before a judge. But when as we have faith to stay our selves upon the goodness of God, too call upon him as David doth here, our succour, and shield: we may call upon him with such a confidence, as that he will never be deaf, too hear our prayers: when then we are thus assured, we are forthwith won to love him, then delight we to yield our obedience unto his law. Now in following that which we have already declared, David again addeth,

But I haue already shewed, that the principall matter which God declareth vnto vs in his worde, is this, that hee protesteth howe well he loueth vs in alluring vs vnto him selfe, to the ende we should not doubt, but that he will bee our father in all and through all, and that wee shoulde bee bolde to come before him: that when there is any question of our saluation, and of whatsoeuer els we haue neede off, we should not doubt but that hee is ready to heare all our prayers, that his hande is alwayes liberally bent, to the end ⟨image 131⟩