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…

we must not, I say, think it strange, although that they feel no help at the hand of God in their afflictions, & that his merciful goodness stretcheth not it self unto them. Now David returneth to this sentence which we have seen, and desireth to be quickened according unto the word of God. It is very true he useth the word, Judgement, but all cometh to one, as we have already heretofore declared. Quicken me then according to thy judgements, saith he, yea which I have loved. But yet notwithstanding, he showeth us how it is that God hath promised to quicken us, and why he attributeth it unto his only mercy.

we must not, I say, thinke it straunge, although that they feele no help at the hand of God in their afflictions, & that his mercifull goodnesse stretcheth not it selfe vnto them. Now Dauid returneth to this sentēce which we haue seene, and desireth to be quickened according vnto the worde of God. It is very true he vseth the word, Iudgement, but al cō meth to one, as we haue already heretofore declared. Quicken me then according to thy iudgements, sayth he, yea which I have loued. But yet notwithstanding, he sheweth vs how it is that God hath promised to quicken vs, and why hee attributeth it vnto his onely mercie.

Now this is a saying which importeth a very good and excellent lesson: for they which confess, that they can not be saved but by the grace of God, yet notwithstanding how soever it is, they cease not to overthrow the grace of God, in extolling their merits, or else in making them selves believe that God hath promised them to be so kind unto them, because they have deserved it. It is requisite then that we know with David, what it is that hath moved and stirred up God to promise to quicken us: to wit, to maintain us. For this word to Quicken, importeth all whatsoever concerneth our estate & salvation. It is because he is good, and never sought the cause otherwise but in his goodness. When then we are enforced to confess that it is God which maintaineth us, we must also forthwith confess that God hath done it for his promise sake, and for that he hath revealed it as a testimony in his word. Moreover, see wherein a great number of people are too too grossly deceived: that is, that God promiseth too maintain and conserve us, accordingly as we are worthy thereof, or accordingly as every man shall deserve. And hereupon, as I have already said, we darken the grace of God, and feign through arrogance, I know not what presumption, that it seemeth, that we our selves are the cause why God favoureth us, and that the same cometh at the least, partly of our selves. And therefore we ought so much the more throughly to consider of that which David speaketh of in this place. Thy mercies, O Lord, are great, O quicken me according to thy testimonies.