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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…
Two and twenty sermons of Master John Calvin In which sermons is most religiously handled, the hundredth and nineteenth Psalm of David, by eight verses apart according to the Hebrew alphabet. Translated out of French into English by T.S.Two and twentie sermons of Maister Iohn Caluin In which sermons is most religiously handled, the hundredth and nineteenth Psalme of Dauid, by eight verses aparte according to the Hebrewe alphabet. Translated out of Frenche into Englishe by T.S.
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for John Harrison and Thomas Man, 1580London: printed by Thomas Dawson for Iohn Harrison and Thomas Man, 1580
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Whereby he signifieth unto us, that he babbled not even as the hypocrites do, or else that he cried not out upon ⟨p. 156⟩God for a fashion or coldly, but prayed with a true & earnest zeal. Neither do we any otherwise but even profane the name of God, when as we pray unto him without attentive minds having our thoughts wandering this way and that way, and on every side. Let us then consider, what it is principally to be required in our prayers, which is, that we must not only wag the tongue, and open our mouth, with an intent to pray unto God: but we must pray sincerely and purely also unto him from the bottom of our harts. Now in very deed we ought to bring this into a more plain order: But yet according to the manner which we have heretofore kept in handling of this Psalm, it shall suffice that we set down every thing briefly in certain articles. It remaineth then for this time that every one privately by himself doth more diligently meditate & bestow his whole study herein. Now let us see how we ought too make our prayers to God, to wit, our prayers must not proceed from the midst of our mouth, but from a godly mind, and pure truth. This word to cry out, importeth vehemency, as shall again soon after be spoken of. Now David meaneth not that he strained his throat to call and cry out, but he rather signifieth that he went not coldly unto it, as they do which pray unto God, they know not why nor wherefore, without it be for a fashion: or if they be pressed through any need, yet are they no whit at all rightly moved, because they do not assure themselves that he will hear and receive them. David then showeth that he was not so blockish, but that he had such an earnest desire as pushed him thereto as S. Paul sayeth, that when we come to pray unto God,1 we ought to approach with groaning harts, which no tongue can express, by which we are pushed forward by the spirit of god. See then the 2. condition which is required in our prayers, that is, that we must lift our harts & minds up into heaven, when as we pray unto God. For we knowing what great need we have of his help, must pray that he will have compassion of our miserable estate, yea & confess that we are the children of perdition, if he stretched not forth his merciful hand unto us: and ⟨image 164⟩therefore that hereupon, we ought to set out and call upon him with an earnest affection.