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 maketh a protestation and complaint, too the end God might the rather incline him self to hear, and help him. And that is, according too that which he hath already said. For if we will have God to help us, it is good reason that we should patiently attend his leisure. And in very deed he that shall presume to advance him self, or thinketh that God will have mercy upon him, and then letteth him self to be overcome with temptation, and becometh altogether desperate: he by this means suffereth not God too exercise his goodness as he hath promised: but in thus doing, shutteth the gate against God as it were. Wherefore if we be moved to be revenged of our enemies, to be our own carvers, as we say, in revenge and not tarry until God doth his office, do we think that he ought to help us? He that will do justice with his own hand, and of his own private authority, will he come to crave aide of the Magistrate, after that he hath killed his enemy? If so be then there be any man which thinketh to be saved of him self, and yet sayeth unto God▪ Save me O Lord, this a very mockery. And therefore for this cause David sayeth in this place, Many there are, O Lord, which trouble and persecute me: yet do I not swerve from thy statutes. David speaketh not here to boast him self, but it is to declare that he waited for the help of God: and putting him self under his protection, trusted to obtain his request, because he might boldly crave it of him. See then what a full boldness we may conceive to have in calling upon God, & not to doubt but that we shall obtain whatsoever we pray for unto him according to his will: that is, he hath pity of us: so ⟨p. 169⟩that, I say, we must always stay our selves upon his promises, as we see David here hath done. So then, let us here consider in the first place, that so often as we come unto God, we must come unto him attending his good leisure, and not to be shaken with what soever temptations shall come unto us, but we must always seek after God, meditate continually upon his promises, & have them always in mind: we must, I say, have all this, if we will have God to help and defend us.

Here Dauid maketh a protestation and complaint, too the ende God might the rather encline him selfe to heare, and helpe him. And that is, according too that which hee hath already said. For if we will haue God to helpe vs, it is good reason that wee should patiently attende his leisure. And in very deede hee that shall presume to aduaunce him selfe, or thinketh that God will haue mercy vpon him, and then letteth him selfe to be ouercome with temtation, and becommeth altogether desperate: hee by this meanes suffereth not God too exercise his goodnesse as he hath promised: but in thus doing, shutteth the gate against God as it were. Wherefore if wee be moued to be reuenged of our enemies, to be our owne caruers, as we say, in reuenge and not tary vntill God doth his office, doe we thinke that hee ought to helpe vs? Hee that will doe iustice with his owne hand, and of his owne priuate authoritie, will hee come to craue aide of the Magistrate, after that hee hath killed his enemy? If so be then there be any man which thinketh to be saued of him selfe, and yet sayeth vnto God Saue me O Lorde, this a very mockery. And therefore for this cause Dauid saieth in this place, Many there are, O Lorde, which trouble and persecute me: yet do I not swarue from thy statutes. Dauid speaketh not here to boast him selfe, but it is to declare that he wayted for the help of God: and putting him selfe vnder his protection, trusted to obteine his request, bicause he might boldely craue it of him. See then what a full boldnes we may conceiue to haue in calling vpon God, & not to dout but that we shal obtain whatsoeuer we pray for vnto him according to his wil: that is, he hath pitie of vs: so