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…

When then the ungodly, shall with the contempt of God, and an extreme impiety, even rush upon us to overthrow us, let us then, I say, remember the example of David and say, wherefore do the wicked thus persecute us, without any regard too him, who ought and will when it pleaseth him both with force and violence repress them? It is because they are both blind and blockish, and are without all truth and equity. But on the contrary side, let us not be afeard, because we know that God is nigh us: & let us continually call upon him, to the ⟨p. 162⟩end he may be always nearer and nearer unto us, too put him self betwixt us, and make him self our buckler to put back the attempts, and to bear the blows wherewith the wicked shall assail us. Moreover, let us be sure & resolute, that notwithstanding that the ungodly shall thus oppress us, yet that God is not far from us, although that we can not perceive it. For God will oftentimes be near us, when as we shall think that he is clean hidden: that is to say, he showeth not unto us his power and virtue, neither layeth he it open at the first chop. For we must also call upon him, that we might show what honour we bear him: that although he prolongeth the time, and tarrieth longer before he help us, then we would, yet must we notwithstanding tarry his good leisure. In sum we must always be resolute in this which David here speaketh of, saying, are the ungodly nigh? very well, and God is at hand. That is to say, God is not asleep in heaven, whiles these men are maliciously imagining to do us hurt. God his arms are not a cross, neither are his hands closed, notwithstanding that these men seek nothing else but to devour us. God is not yet blind, whiles these ungodly awake, to destroy and confound us. See then how God, according to the necessities which he knoweth to be in us, will always be at hand, so to assist us, as that whatsoever mischief is near us, it shall never be able to overcome us, yea, invent the wicked what they can on all sides. This is it that David meaneth to signify in this place.

When then the vngodly, shall with the contempt of God, and an extreeme impietie, euen rushe vpon vs to ouerthrowe vs, let vs then, I say, remember the example of Dauid and saye, wherefore doe the wicked thus persecute vs, without any regarde too him, who ought and will when it pleaseth him both with force and violence represse them? It is bicause they are both blynde and blockish, and are without all truthe and equitie. But on the contrary side, let vs not be afearde, bicause wee knowe that God is nigh vs: & let vs continually cal vpō him, to the