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…

I have had as great delight in the way of thy testimonies, as in all manner of riches.

I haue had as great delight in the way of thy testimonyes, as in all manner of riches.

Here David declareth that having weaned him self from his earthly affections, wherewithal we are over greatly entangled, he wholly traveleth to come to God. For it is impossible for us too taste the sweetness contained in the word of God, to take pleasure in this doctrine of our salvation, and to be altogether given thereunto, before such time as we have cut off from us, all our wicked lusts and affections which reign too too much in our mortal bodies. It is like as if a man would have land to bring forth Corn, which were altogether full of thorns and weeds. Or what is he that would have a Vine grow upon stones and rocks, wherein is no moisture? For what is the state of the nature of man? Forsooth it is as barren land as possibly can be. What are all our affections, but bushes, thorns, and weeds, which choke and make all the good seed of ⟨image 22⟩God nothing worth? So then, it is not without cause that David here matcheth riches with the word of God, and this avarice wherewith we are led and inflamed, against the desire that he had too follow God, and too walk after his word. As if he should have said, Alas Lord, it is true that I am given to the vanities of this world aswell as others are: But yet have I chiefly desired thy word, & have even striven with my self to subdue all the evil affections of my flesh. Here we see what doctrine we have to gather unto our selves out of this place: to wit, that if we will be the good scholars of God, and take delight in the way of his testimonies, we must first subdue the lusts of our flesh, & not learn to be given to worldly things, neither yet to be nuzzled in that which we imagine to be the highest point of our felicity: but that we might understand to contemn riches, & all other things whatsoever, which might withdraw us from our God and our saviour Jesus Christ,¹ to make no more account of it then of dung and dirt, as S. Paul saith. And yet it is most sure that David contemneth not the riches which he had. For being a mighty rich king, as we know, yet he cast not his Gold & silver into the bottom of the sea, but used of the abundance & store which God had given him yea we see what an excellent and beautiful house he had, as the holy history telleth us. But yet he followed the rule which the Scripture setteth down unto us: