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…

It is most true, that we must crave that at Gods hand which already we have. And why so? Because we are certain that we cannot enjoy it, nor yet use the same without his grace and favour: And that the use thereof shall never profit us without he bless it, even as we desire of him our daily Bread. And although the table be covered, and the meat set ready on the board, yet we desire of God to make it nourishment for our bodies. Whereby, as I have before said; it shall profit us no whit at all, without God bless it through his grace and liberality. It is very so that we do crave it, by reason of our continual confessing of our want and need.

It is moste true, that wee must craue that at Gods hande which already wee haue. And why so? Because wee are certaine that wee cannot inioy it, nor yet vse the same without his grace and fauour: And that the vse thereof shall neuer profite vs without he blesse it, euen as we desire of him our dayly Breade. And although the table be couered, and the meate sette ready on the boorde, yet we desire of God to make it nourishment for our bodyes. Wherby, as I haue before sayde; it shall profite vs no whit at all, without God blesse it through his grace and liberalitie. It is very so that we doe craue it, by reason of our continuall confessing of our want and neede.

So then, it cannot possibly be, that this was in David his own hand and power, to keep the word of God. And he showeth it to be so in this which followeth, O Lord open thou mine eyes. As if he should have said, Alas deer father, it is so far off that I am able to keep thy word, as that I should not be able to understand any whit thereof, if thou guidest me not thereto: For it is thou which must both begin the same, & also perform it wholly in me. This is the way and means for us to understand what to do: For many there are which know the thing that is good, and yet for all that they utterly refuse it. Now David declareth, that he is not only void of all power too keep the word of God: but also that he is without all understanding, except it be given him by the holy Ghost. Let us note well who it is that speaketh Even David a most excellent Prophet. And yet for all that we see that he declareth (yea and that boldly) him self to be ignorant, without GOD instructeth him: Neither doth he here speak of any worldly instruction, as we would imagine of the things which we knew nor