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…

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, ⟨image 149⟩because we should in no wise doubt, but that he careth for us, and bestoweth & employeth himself for our preservation. When it is thus with us, all the rest cannot but go well with us: but if this point be wanting, we are very miserable, although it seemeth to us to have even as much as can be wished. Now by the way let us note, that David in beseeching God to be merciful unto him, declareth, that so long as we are in this world, that we are subject too a number of calamities and afflictions. And so, we have great need of the mercy of God, or else we shall carry away all the blows (as we say) amongst so many grievous encounters, as shall be lamentable. Now this may serve us for two purposes:

Heere Dauid right well sheweth, what the desires and petitions of all the Children of God ought to be, to witte that they must hang vpon the meere mercyes of God, and to knowe that all their felicitie consisteth therein, and so to stay them selues vpon this ground and foundation, That God looketh with his eye vppon them, too guide and gouerne them. Nowe this thing is greatly to be obserued, because that men commonly make them selues beleeue that they shall bee blessed, if they may obtaine that whiche their fleshe desireth. As when the Glutton shall haue wherwithal to fill his filthy paunch, so that it may stand astrout: the Whoremonger to inioy all his foule villanyes & beastly lecheryes: the Couetous man to be so scraping as that hee careth not what he getteth nor howe he commeth by his goods, to lay Land to lande, and too bee filled with an other mans blood: Loe these are the men, as they thinke, which are blessed. Yea, and although they were not so giuen to wickednes, as openly to greeue the maiestie of God: yet for al that ye shal haue very few which wil acknowledge them selues to be accursed, but that God hath care ouer them and their saluation, & that there is none other blessednesse nor felicitie but euen this, that they are in the hand of God and vnder his protection. And so much the rather ought wee too recorde and haue often in minde this lesson when as Dauid sayth, O looke vpon me O Lord, and be mercifull vnto me. For by this hee signifieth vnto vs, that if we will haue our life to be blessed, if we will haue good successe in all our affaires, Lo from this fountaine muste wee drawe all our felicitie: which is the prouidence of God,