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…

I hate falsehood and abhor it: but thy law do I love.

I hate falshod and abhorre it: but thy lawe doe I loue.

This verse is not here added but to good purpose: For David showeth that we can never be glad (as he hath declared how he hath been) neither yet stand in awe of the word of God, without we detest falsehood. Now, we of our own nature are so nuzzled in vanity, as that it is lamentable. The law of God then shall never come so fully home unto us, as that we may justly say, that we earnestly hear it, and receive it from the hart, until such time as we have strived against our fleshly affections, that is too say, against all whatsoever is in our nature, because it is all but vanity. In sum, David, after he had spoken of this joy, which he had conceived of the promises of God, wherein he declareth unto us his goodness: after he had spoken of the fear which we owe him, to become subject unto him, and after that he had given him the authority which he deserved above all other men and creatures: for a conclusion he addeth, the mean how to attain to all this: to wit, that ⟨image 183⟩we must eschew falsehood, and not only eschew, & hate it, but also detest it: yea, signifying that we must greatly abhor it, so that we overcome all our wicked desires and tame them, and all other our lusts which carry us away too wickedness, & withdraw us from the obedience of God. So then, we see now, that natural men can never be disposed to serve God, until such time as they have striven against the vanity of their own nature, and that not only once, or twice, but also too continue it all the days of their life. For what are the lusts which are in us, and which do wickedly lead us from the right way? In very deed, the more part are so prevented with them, as that they feel them not: or else think, that it is nothing so marvellous thick darkness remaineth in them. As for those which have a desire with all their hart to forsake them, yet shall we find them also to be overmuch nuzzled in them. Moreover, if all the men in the world were examined, and an inquisition made, I confess that we shall find the most wicked sometimes to be remorsed and stung, and to be inwardly pricked and constrained manger their hearts to have loathing to do evil. They have an eye unto it by fits: and yet they cease not too follows the evil with a continual course, although between whiles they have a loathing of it. And we must not greatly marvel at this: