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…

[…] my supplication come be fore thee: and deliver me according unto thy word.

〈…〉 my supplication come be fore thee: and deliuer me according vnto thy worde.

It is very true that he useth two sentences: but yet they are not without a marvellous grace in one self same signification: and by this repetition we may the better perceive that David meant not, but to have God to grant either of both his requests, according to the promises which he had made him. See then, what the natural sense is of the first verse, O Lord, give me understanding as thou hast promised. And this is according unto the rule which we have heretofore touched, that we ought not too crave of God any thing whatsoever, without it be that which he hath promised, yea so that we be assured of his will. It is very true, that God dealeth very familiarly with us, when as he calleth us, to come unto him, as the father calleth his children, suffereth us to pour abroad all our affections unto him, and to unburden them as it were in his lap, as the scripture maketh mention and yet he meaneth notwithstanding that we should hold this modesty, not too crave of him any thing whatsoever that seemeth good in our own eyes: but to discern of that which best liketh him. And how shall we know that? Forsooth by his promises. Wherefore we must be well assured of our prayers; and not to crave of God at a wild adventure, this thing, or that: but we must beseech him, and be certain and sure that he will hear us. And how may this be done, seeing that no man hath been of his counsel, too say that we have any such certainty, except he his self had told us, that it is his pleasure to grant us? So then, it is requisite that all our prayers be conformable unto the promises of God, that ⟨p. 183⟩we gather together, I say, out of the holy scripture, all whatsoever he hath promised us, to the end we may that way have an entrance to make our supplications, and prayers unto him. Now it remaineth for us to know, whether David had the promise alone made unto him by God, or else, whether it be common unto us all. No doubt of it God spake not to David as to a private man: but too declare in general that he would not miss to instruct all those which come unto him in humility, and to ask nothing, but according unto his word. Since then it is so, that God hath spoken to us in general, declaring that he is ready to play the part of a schoolmaster, if we will become as his scholars: