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 by this he showeth unto us that we are even in good earnest accursed, when as we give our selves up unto our own fleshly liking, because we would be esteemed amongst men, and take pleasure in our pastimes and delights. And why so? Because we shall be always tormented with unquietness and grief, so that we shall never be at peace and rest. And although we verily think our selves to be assured of victory all the days of our life, yet shall we reel this way and that, and willingly hurt our selves, so that it should seem we had a will too break both our arms and legs, & in the end, neck and all. And the reason is, for that we follow not the way which God hath set before us. Let us then consider, what the meaning of David is, to wit, that we must not make reckoning of any assurance here in this world, except we love the word of God: yea and that so to, as that we desire nothing else, but to be wholly ordered by it, to submit and hold our selves thereto, without being withdrawn by the enticements of Satan, and with all the temptations of our corrupt flesh and nature shall lay before our eyes. In very deed it may very well seem at the first sight, that experience teacheth us the contrary of that which David speaketh. For who are most grieved, vexed, and troubled? Forsooth even the children of God, who have all the shame & offences done unto them? Even the self same men. For it is said, ⟨image 186⟩That our saviour Christ is as it were a badge and mark of all these contrarieties, we must then have all the ungodly to be our enemies. In sum, all they which intend too serve God, cannot escape from shame and slanderous reports, from being despised, troubled, and outraged, & to endure great numbers of injuries and violences: Lo how the Children of God are entreated and handled in this present life. And so by this reason, it seemeth that David promiseth us here, that which we have not. But we are here too consider, that David promiseth us not such a rest, as shall be as it were an earthly Paradise. He speaketh of this true prosperity, which the Children of God have, when they are contented to serve him: that in all their griefs: yea in all their anguishes and troubles, they run only unto him, and lay all their cares upon him, not doubting but that he will help them:

Nowe by this he sheweth vnto vs that wee are euen in good earnest accursed, when as wee giue our selues vp vnto our owne fleshly liking, because we would bee esteemed amongst men, and take pleasure in our pastimes and delightes. And why so? Because we shall be alwayes tormenmented with vnquietnesse and griefe, so that we shall neuer be at peace and rest. And although wee veryly thinke our selues to be assured of victory all the dayes of our life, yet shall we reele this way and that, and willingly hurt our selues, so that it shoulde seeme we had a will too breake both our armes and legges, & in the end, neck and all. And the reasō is, for that we follow not the way which God hath set before vs. Let vs then cōsider, what the meaning of Dauid is, to wit, that we must not make reckoning of any assurāce heere in this worlde, except we loue the woorde of God: yea and that so to, as that we desire nothing else, but to be wholly ordered by it, to submit and holde our selues therto, without beeing withdrawen by the intisementes of Satan, and with all the temptations of our corrupte fleshe and nature shall laye before our eyes. In very deede it may very well seeme at the firste sight, that experience teacheth vs the contrary of that which Dauid speaketh. For who are moste greeued, vexed, and troubled? Forsooth euen the children of God, who haue al the shame & offences doone vnto them? Euen the selfe same men. For it is saide,