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 if this petition came ever in season, it cometh now at this day in very good season. For we see how many the enemies of God are which bend themselves against the Gospel: we see the malice and obstinacy throughout the whole world. And so, it is not possible but that a man which feareth God must needs be assailed & troubled on all sides. Seeing then that men are so furious to wrong us, so much the rather ought we to be careful to make this request unto God with David, yea and that with such a confidence, as that we should not doubt but that when we are under his protection, he shall be sufficient too maintain and defend us. Now it followeth:

Nowe if this petition came euer in season, it commeth nowe at this day in very good season. For wee see how many the enemyes of God are which bend themselues against the Gospell: wee see the malice and obstinacy throughout the whole worlde. And so, it is not possible but that a man which feareth God must needes be assayled & troubled on all sides. Seeing then that men are so furious to wrong vs, so much the rather ought we to be carefull to make this request vnto God with Dauid, yea and that with such a confidence, as that we should not doubt but that when wee are vnder his protection, he shall bee sufficient too maintaine and defende vs. Nowe it followeth:

Mine eyes have failed in looking for thy salvation: and for thy just promise.

Mine eyes haue fayled in looking for thy saluation: and for thy iust promise.

We shall not need to stand long upon this sentence, because it hath been already handled here before. David only protesteth, that he hath looked for such help from God, as he desired. And that is to show, that he prayed not hypocritically, but faithfully. And this is a thing which we ought throughly to mark. For we think our selves too have done very substantially and sufficiently, when as we have pronounced and rightly placed our words in the time of prayer; but if we shall have spoken never so loud, and with never so full and open mouth, and yet have empty or fast closed up hearts, empty I say, and void of all trust and fast closed up, it is a most manifest token that we never surely looked for any succour at the hands of God: and therefore behold why of very right all our prayers are unprofitable and to no purpose. And so, when as we will beseech the Lord our god to take our cause into his hand to help us, let us take this with us which david here showeth in this place by his example: to wit, let us attend and look for our salvation and deliverance from God: Yea and let us consider of that which is said, & according to the word of thy righteousness. For by this he signifieth to us, upon whom we