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…

Let us then understand, that God meaneth here to exhort us by the example of David, that if we will be well instructed by his word, we ought with such an humility as here ⟨p. 141⟩mention is made of, too come unto him with an earnest desire & zeal, knowing this to be such a benefit as deserveth to be preferred above all the rest, even too know the will and love of God towards us, considering that in it consisteth and resteth our whole salvation. Now it followeth in the fourth verse:

Let vs then vnderstande, that God meaneth here to exhort vs by the exāple of Dauid, that if we wil be wel instructed by his worde, we ought with such an humilitie as here ⟨p. 141⟩mention is made of, too come vnto him with an earnest desire & zeale, knowing this to be such a benefite as deserueth to be preferred aboue all the rest, euen too knowe the will and loue of God towardes vs, considering that in it consisteth and resteth our whole saluation. Nowe it followeth in the fourth verse:

Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me: as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.

Looke thou vpon me, and be mercifull vnto mee: as thou vsest to doe vnto those that loue thy name.

Here David right well showeth, what the desires and petitions of all the Children of God ought to be, to wit that they must hang upon the mere mercies of God, and to know that all their felicity consisteth therein, and so to stay them selves upon this ground and foundation, That God looketh with his eye upon them, too guide and govern them. Now this thing is greatly to be observed, because that men commonly make them selves believe that they shall be blessed, if they may obtain that which their flesh desireth. As when the Glutton shall have wherewithal to fill his filthy paunch, so that it may stand astrut: the Whoremonger to enjoy all his foul villainies & beastly lecheries: the Covetous man to be so scraping as that he careth not what he getteth nor how he cometh by his goods, to lay Land to land, and too be filled with an other mans blood: Lo these are the men, as they think, which are blessed. Yea, and although they were not so given to wickedness, as openly to grieve the majesty of God: yet for all that ye shall have very few which will acknowledge them selves to be accursed, but that God hath care over them and their salvation, & that there is none other blessedness nor felicity but even this, that they are in the hand of God and under his protection. And so much the rather ought we too record and have often in mind this lesson when as David saith, O look upon me O Lord, and be merciful unto me. For by this he signifieth unto us, that if we will have our life to be blessed, if we will have good success in all our affairs, Lo from this fountain must we draw all our felicity: which is the providence of God,