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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…
Two and twenty sermons of Master John Calvin In which sermons is most religiously handled, the hundredth and nineteenth Psalm of David, by eight verses apart according to the Hebrew alphabet. Translated out of French into English by T.S.Two and twentie sermons of Maister Iohn Caluin In which sermons is most religiously handled, the hundredth and nineteenth Psalme of Dauid, by eight verses aparte according to the Hebrewe alphabet. Translated out of Frenche into Englishe by T.S.
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for John Harrison and Thomas Man, 1580London: printed by Thomas Dawson for Iohn Harrison and Thomas Man, 1580
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The one is, that if we will obtain at Gods hands to be conducted by him, and to have his word to be our way and direction, we should not make such an hypocritical nor cold prayer unto him, with mocking of him thereby: But with such a true desire as carieth us even out of our selves, and to make no such account of this present life, but to be ⟨p. 23⟩well advised, to shoot at an higher matter. And thus much as touching the first point, which here we have to note.
The one is, that if we will obtaine at Gods handes to be conducted by him, and to haue his worde to be our waye and direction, we should not make such an hypocritical nor cold prayer vnto him, with mocking of him thereby: But with such a true desire as carieth vs euen out of our selues, and to make no such accompt of this present life, but to be ⟨p. 23⟩well aduised, to shoote at an higher matter. And thus much as touching the first point, which here we haue to note.
The second is, that this desire, ought not to be only as a wavering desire, but an ardent and an hot desire. For he saith, That his soul hath fainted. And why so? Let us here a little consider, what our appetites and lusts are, when we turn our selves away from God, and give our selves wholly to worldly things. They are so excessive and inordinate, that it is even pitiful, being without end and measure. But if we have a lean desire, & such a one as I know not what, to walk according to the will of God: this desire would be as soon allayed, as a drop of wine put into an hundred times so much water. I beseech you what shall that be? shall it taste any more as wine? Even so forcible should the good affection of a faithful man be. If this affection be not fervent, and very vehement, it shall be soon choked by the corruptions of our carnal passions & affections which (as I have before said) have neither measure, modesty, nor temperance. See then for the second point what we have here to note in this behalf, to wit, that it is not enough that we have a mean desire to serve God, for that would be very soon quenched in us, and be made nothing worth. But we must be so attentive thereto, as that we may able to say that our soul fainteth, and languisheth, that our power and strength droppeth and melteth away as it were until such time as God relieveth us, in granting that unto us which we require of him.