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…

This sentence comprehendeth all whatsoever we have already touched, and is the only confirmation thereof. For he sayeth, that he hath longed for the saving health of God. And how is that? For it seemeth that every man might say as much: and so, that David had no more then the very faithless. For if we shall ask a desperate man, yea even a very half devil, and say, wouldest not thou have God to be thy saviour? he will make answer and say, yes forsooth. Lo what answer we shall find in the mouths both of great and small, of good and bad.

This sentence comprehendeth all whatsoeuer wee haue already touched, and is the onely confirmation thereof. For he sayeth, that he hath longed for the sauing health of God. And howe is that? For it seemeth that euery man might say as much: and so, that Dauid had no more then the very faithlesse. For if wee shall aske a desperate man, yea euen a very halfe deuill, and saye, wouldest not thou haue God to be thy sauiour? he will make answere and saye, yes forsooth. Loe what answere wee shall finde in the mouthes both of great and small, of good and bad.

Now David his meaning is, to make a great protestation, and such a one as a very few can make in truth. For we suppose him to be all our Saviours: and yet we seek our saving health at a wild adventure, and every man will have regard to his own considerations and providence. ⟨p. 187⟩When there shall arise any question of our maintenance here in this present life, do we believe that God must keep and preserve us, & that it is he in deed which maintaineth us herein? whence cometh it that we have so mighty evil consciences? whence cometh all deceits, frauds, excess, cruelties, injuries, violences, and all such like? What is the cause that maketh us to live with such evil consciences? but because we do not believe, that God will give us our daily bread? We desire God to feed us, and yet we will have the devil to do it: in so much that there are very few which at this day think, that that which they have, cometh from God▪ So then, it is very far of from the thought of our hearts, to say, O Lord, I have desired thy saving health. For in stead of attending upon God, to have him too guide, defend, and help us at all times whensoever that we have need: in stead of this I say, what do we? Every man as I have said, seeketh for his saving health at a wild adventure. We should rather seek for i in hell, then to have our eyes lifted up into heaven to call upon God, & to seek for our saving health both of body and soul in him. So then, there are very few which are able to say as it is here set down, O Lord, I have longed for thy saving health: if they will not lye. As we see the impudency of hypocrites which will make mighty great brags enough but yet for all that, it is no small matter, as I have already said, to trust altogether in God, and to say, that it belongeth to him to guide us, that we run to him, and have there our refuge both for soul and body. Now then he addeth, In thy law is my delight: To signify, how we ought to demean our selves not to hope for salvation, nor yet to wish for it otherwise then from God alone: to wit, when as we have taken delight in his law.