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…

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.

Nowe this is a saying which importeth a very good and excellent lesson: for they which confesse, that they can not be saued but by the grace of God, yet notwithstāding how soeuer it is, they cease not to ouerthrow the grace of God, in extolling their merites, or els in making them selues beleeue that God hath promised them to bee so kinde vnto them, bicause they haue deserued it. It is requisite then that we know with Dauid, what it is that hath moued and stirred vp God to promise to quicken vs: to wit, to mainteine vs. For this worde to Quicken, importeth all whatsoeuer concerneth our estate & saluation. It is bicause he is good, and neuer sought the cause otherwise but in his goodnesse. When then we are enforced to cōfesse that it is God which mainteineth vs, we must also forthwith confesse that God hath done it for his promise sake, and for that he hath reueled it as a testimonie in his worde. Moreouer, see wherein a great number of people are too too grossely deceiued: that is, that God promiseth too mainteine and conserue vs, accordingly as we are worthy thereof, or accordingly as euery man shall deserue. And herevpon, as I haue already said, we darken the grace of God, and faine through arrogancie, I know not what presumption, that it seemeth, that wee our selues are the cause why God fauoureth vs, and that the same commeth at the least, partely of our selues. And therefore we ought so much the more throughly to consider of that which Dauid speaketh of in this place. Thy mercies, O Lord, are great, O quicken me according to thy testimonies.