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…

See how the glory of God ought to resound, not only at the tongues end of the faithful, but also in the whole action of their hands and feet, and whatsoever else ought to apply them too honour this good God, that we should do him homage all our life long, considering that we hold all of him: and not only for our creation, but also for our maintenance and conservation, and for that he continually showeth him self too be our protector. For there passeth not one hour over our heads, wherein God delivereth us not from one mischief or other. We have then a large matter to thank him for, not only with the mouth and in words: but also in making protestation thereof all the days of our life. We see now the sum and effect of that which is here spoken, to wit, I have called upon thee with my whole hart, O hear me, and I will keep thy Statutes. And afterwards, I have called upon thee, save me, and I will keep thy Testimonies. And after that, I have prevented the dawning of the day.

See howe the glory of God ought to resound, not onely at the tounges end of the faithfull, but also in the whole action of their handes and feete, and whatsoeuer else ought to apply them too honor this good God, that wee should doe him homage all our life longe, considering that wee holde all of him: and not onely for our creation, but also for our maintenaunce and conseruation, and for that hee continually sheweth him selfe too be our protector. For there passeth not one hower ouer our heads, wherein God deliuereth vs not from one mischiefe or other. We haue then a large matter to thanke him for, not onely with the mouth and in words: but also in making protestation therof all the dayes of our life. Wee see nowe the summe and effect of that which is heere spoken, to witte, I haue called vppon thee with my whole hart, O heare me, and I will keepe thy Statutes. And afterwardes, I haue called vpon thee, saue me, and I will keepe thy Testimonyes. And after that, I haue preuented the dawning of the day.

I have called upon thee, yea in trusting in thy word. Now here he again repeateth the point which we have noted in the other Sermon: that is, that for our well praying unto God, we must build upon the trust of his promises. And this is the true preparation which we ought to make, even such a one as this. It is true that we had need to feel our miseries and necessities, as it hath been before declared. For we shall never pray unto God with a right affection, and from the heart without this. And besides it is very needful also that we so lay open our hearts, as that we come boldly too present them before our good God too discharge and unburden those our hearts of all their cares and sorrows. But in the mean while, how is it possible for us, so watchfully and carefully too pray unto GOD, and to be at full liberty to come before him, if we had not this hope that he would hear us? And how could we have any hope, if he had not given us his word which witnesseth unto us his will, and certifieth us that we shall not lose our labour in praying unto him? The first laying open then which is requisite for rightly calling upon GOD, is, that we come unto him in full assurance that he will hear us. And why so? Because he hath promised us.