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…

For God maketh not unto us liberal and large promises as men do, and then deceiveth us. His words are just. And as he sayeth in an other place,¹ his words are like to pure silver which is tried in the fire, and hath been seven times purified in the furnace. Even so is it with all the promises of God, we ought to be very assured of them. Because he is faithful and just, and that there is nothing but righteousness and truth in all that he saith. Now David goeth further on for he speaketh not of a simple affection: But saith, that his eyes have failed, as if he should have said, that he was hardly so resolved and not without great pain. By this he showeth us, that his faith was so troubled, as that he knew not what would become of him, that he had great and strong conflicts, that he was in marvellous anguishes, & troubles, so that he was as a man half dead: and yet that he was armed and fenced amiddest all these hard cases, with the hope & trust which he had in God. See what the words import which he used, that his eyes failed for the health, ⟨image 141⟩and succour, which he looked for at the hands of God. Will we then have a right hope, and such an one as God alloweth of? Let us then not trust only when we are quiet and at rest, ne yet be thrown down by any temptations: but when as we shall be in our extremest troubles that we know not at all what shall become of us, that we shall see nothing else but death before us and round about us: here upon, I say, let us always be firm and constant, trusting that God will be our saviour, since he hath so promised us. Lo how we may make this protestation as David here doeth. Now it followeth,

For God maketh not vnto vs liberall and large promises as men doe, and then deceiueth vs. His wordes are iust. And as he saieth in an other place,¹ his wordes are like to pure siluer which is tried in the fier, and hath beene seuen times purified in the furnace. Euen so is it with all the promises of God, we ought to be very assured of them. Bicause hee is faithfull and iust, and that there is nothing but righteousnesse and truthe in all that he sayth. Now Dauid goeth further on for he speaketh not of a simple affection: But saith, that his eyes haue fayled, as if he should haue said, that he was hardly so resolued and not without great paine. By this hee sheweth vs, that his faith was so troubled, as that hee knewe not what would become of him, that hee had great and strong conflictes, that he was in marueilous anguishes, & troubles, so that he was as a man halfe dead: and yet that he was armed and fenced amiddest al these hard cases, with the hope & trust which he had in God. See what the words import which he vsed, that his eyes fayled for the health,