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…

David addeth hereto an other reason, whereby he is more inflamed to pray unto God, and to address him self unto him, to be taught in his word: to wit, when he seeth that he hath so rebuked the proud: For the chastisements and punishments which God layeth upon the faithless and rebellious, should be a good instruction for us: As it is said: That God hath executed judgement, and that the inhabitants of the land should learn his righteousness. It is not without cause that the Prophet Isaiah also hath so said: for he signifieth unto us, that God hath by divers and sundry means drawn us unto him, and that chiefly when he teacheth us to fear his majesty. For without it, out alas, we shall become like unto brute beasts, if God lay the bridle in our necks, what licence we will give unto our selves, experience very well teacheth us. Now God seeing that we are so easily brought to run at random, sendeth us examples, because he would bring us to walk in fear and carefully.

Dauid addeth hereto an other reason, whereby hee is more enflamed to praye vnto God, and to addresse him selfe vnto him, to be taught in his word: to wit, when hee seeth that he hath so rebuked the proude: For the chastisements and punishementes which God layeth vppon the faithles and rebellious, shoulde bee a good instruction for vs: As it is said: That God hath executed iudgement, and that the inhabitantes of the land should learne his righteousnes. It is not without cause that the Prophet Esay also hath so said: for he signifieth vnto vs, that God hath by diuers and sundrie meanes drawen vs vnto him, and that chiefly when he teacheth vs to feare his maiestie. For without it, out alas, we shall become like vnto brute beastes, if God laye the bridle in our neckes, what licence we will giue vnto our selues, experience very well teacheth vs. Now God seeing that we are so easily brought to runne at randon, sendeth vs examples, bicause he woulde bring vs to walke in feare and carefully.

And for our part, when we see God to chastise the wicked and disobedient, we should by them take example and ⟨p. 24⟩instruction. Lo here (in sum) what David sayeth. Thou O Lord, hast chastised the disobedient: as if he should have said, True it is, O Lord, that I have desired, even with a vehement affection, and true constancy, to cleave unto thee, and to thy holy commandments: But yet had I need to be more throughly instructed, that I might beware of the punishments which I have seen with mine eyes. When I have seen that thou chastisedst the proud, I have been by and by humbled thereby: so much discipline have I received by it, see then now why I do beseech thee, that I might be more carefully and diligently instructed in thy law. If now it was behooveful for David (who was already so well instructed in the law) to be thus aided for the drawing of him self to God, to wit, that he seeth the unbelievers punished, and God to lay his hand upon them: I beseech you tell me, had not we need of such instruction, & also of a great deal more? And so, as oftentimes as we shall plainly see, God to send his chastisements into the world, to punish sin, we ought greatly to consider thereof, and to understand that it cometh not by adventure or chance (as we commonly say.