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…

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 ⟨p. 133⟩must look and cast our eyes, when as we would throughly stir up our selves unto such an hope: to wit, unto the promises which God hath given us: for if this be not in us, it can never be said to be any more hope, but a vain imagination which we have forged too our selves: for to hope or trust in God, is to be established in his promises. For if a man imagine a thing which seemeth good in his own sight, & after, leaneth thereto, this man trusteth not in God but in him self. So then, if we look to have any help at the hands of God, we must have a sure testimony of his will, we must be sure that he loveth us, and that when he loveth us, he will not fail us in our need. And how shall we be assured of this? It shall be by the only mean of his word. Now because men are so hard to be brought to rest them selves upon God, and not to content them with his promises, David saith these promises to be just, according to the word of thy righteousness, saith he, It is not in vain that he thus intituleth the word of God. And why so? For he thinketh that if he have but his bare word, that it is enough for him. And why so?