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 complaineth unto God, and desireth him to help him against the wicked and ungodly contemners of his majesty: As if he had said unto him, O Lord, I can allege nothing at all for mine one defence, but that they which draw nigh unto me to hurt me, are so much the farther of from thy law, and I the nearer thy commandments It is a common intendment, that they which do imagine ma1ice, are far from God, in withdrawing themselves from his law: but when as we shall narrowly look into the matter, that is the very true and natural sense of the Prophet which I have already touched, that they which imagine malice or deceit, are far off: that is, they are retired from the law of God, to persecute those which draw ⟨image 169⟩nigh unto it. And see how David hath taken for his advantage, that, that the wicked are far from God, because he did very well see, that he had been overthrown through their malice, without God had holpen him. Which thing he showeth by this complaint, that the wicked troubled him even to the uttermost. And so much the more ought we to consider of this, because we being so womanish as possibly may be, do by & by think that if the wicked bear the sway, and craftily go about too devise any thing against us, that all is lost, and that God hath given us over for a spoil. We can in no wise abide that God should exercise our patience nor yet humble us. Let us then throughly consider of the example of David. For although that God had specially chosen him out, amongst the rest, and had bestowed so many excellent graces upon him: yet for all that he was contented that the ungodly should persecute him, neither could he make them stand aloof off, for he had neither Ramparts or Bulwarks, that he was able to say, you shall not come near me. For he sayeth that they drew nigh him. So then, when God giveth such leave to the wicked, as too have the reins at will, so that it should seem, that they had the power even to set their feet on our throats, yea and to swallow us clean up, Let us consider, that it hath been the will of our God in all ages, to have his children subject to the malice of their enemies. Let us also have a further consideration of this which he sayeth, that they are far from the law of God. For this importeth, that they neither had truth nor equity in them.

Heere Dauid complayneth vnto God, and desireth him to helpe him against the wicked and vngodly contemners of his maiestie: As if he had said vnto him, O Lorde, I can alledge nothing at all for mine one defence, but that they which draw nigh vnto me to hurt me, are so much the farther of from thy lawe, and I the neerer thy commaundements It is a commonen entendement, that they which doe imagine ma1ice, are farre from God, in withdrawing themselues from his lawe: but when as wee shall narrowly looke into the matter, that is the very true and naturall sense of the Prophet which I haue already touched, that they which imagine malice or deceit, are farre off: that is, they are retyred from the lawe of God, to persecute those which drawe