Latest / Sermons on Psalm 119 / 015 - Sermon 14 Verses 105-112

Transcript

015 - Sermon 14 Verses 105-112 · Sermons on Psalm 119

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Sermon fourteen of Sermons on Psalm one hundred and nineteen
• 0:06
  Speaker 1: by John Calvin, translated by Thomas Stocker. This LibriVox recording
• 0:13
  Speaker 1: is in the public domain. Noun Thy word is a
• 0:17
  Speaker 1: lantern unto my feet, and a light unto my paths.
• 0:21
  Speaker 1: I have sworn and will perform it, that I will
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: keep Thy righteous judgments. I am very sore afflicted, O, Lord,
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: quicken me according unto thy word. A Lord, I beseech thee,
• 0:31
  Speaker 1: let the free will offerings of my mouth please Thee,
• 0:34
  Speaker 1: and teach me thy judgments. My soul is always in
• 0:38
  Speaker 1: mine hand. Yet do I not forget Thy law. The
• 0:42
  Speaker 1: ungodly have laid a snare for me. But yet I
• 0:45
  Speaker 1: swerve not from thy commandments. Thy testimonies have I claimed
• 0:49
  Speaker 1: as mine heritage forever, for they are the very joy
• 0:52
  Speaker 1: of mine heart. I have applied mine heart to fulfill
• 0:56
  Speaker 1: Thy statutes, always, even unto the end. If we did
• 0:59
  Speaker 1: thoroughly consider that it were very requisite for us to
• 1:02
  Speaker 1: read the Word of God and to listen unto the
• 1:04
  Speaker 1: doctrine taken out of it, we should not need to
• 1:07
  Speaker 1: have the matter to be so much preached. Of what
• 1:10
  Speaker 1: profit and use we receive by it, for every of
• 1:13
  Speaker 1: us should feel the same by experience. But because we
• 1:16
  Speaker 1: are so cold and blockish in reading and hearing of
• 1:19
  Speaker 1: that which God de cleareth unto us, it is meet
• 1:21
  Speaker 1: we should be stirred up there too some other ways,
• 1:24
  Speaker 1: and be showed for what cause the word of God
• 1:26
  Speaker 1: shall profit us, when as we shall be thus wise
• 1:29
  Speaker 1: and of this mind thoroughly to exercise ourselves and to
• 1:32
  Speaker 1: apply our whole study therein. And see why David pursueth
• 1:36
  Speaker 1: this matter so diligently, For besides that which we have
• 1:40
  Speaker 1: already seen here before, he addeth and saith, thy word
• 1:43
  Speaker 1: is a lantern unto my feet and alight unto my paths.
• 1:47
  Speaker 1: Whereby he showeth that it is an inestimable treasure which
• 1:50
  Speaker 1: we shall receive when as we be taught by the
• 1:53
  Speaker 1: word of God, to wit that we shall never err
• 1:56
  Speaker 1: all the days of our life, as the unbelievers do,
• 1:58
  Speaker 1: who know not whether they are go but walk at random.
• 2:02
  Speaker 1: David showeth unto us that when as we shall be
• 2:04
  Speaker 1: guided by the Word of God, we shall be without
• 2:07
  Speaker 1: all danger of falling. Now, because it is a very
• 2:10
  Speaker 1: easy thing for a man to say, thus it seemeth
• 2:13
  Speaker 1: at the first sight, that this saying is so common
• 2:16
  Speaker 1: as that we need not to stay any longer upon it.
• 2:19
  Speaker 1: But in the meanwhile, let us see how the world
• 2:21
  Speaker 1: practiceth that which is here spoken. Indeed, we shall see
• 2:25
  Speaker 1: it all clean. Contrary, for there are very few that
• 2:28
  Speaker 1: will abide to be guided by the word of God,
• 2:30
  Speaker 1: but the more part reject it, and like rather to
• 2:33
  Speaker 1: follow their own wills and desires, or rather can be
• 2:36
  Speaker 1: contented to be governed as it pleaseth men, so that
• 2:39
  Speaker 1: they will not suffer God to bear any rule or
• 2:42
  Speaker 1: authority over them. Therefore, let us well mark what this importeth.
• 2:46
  Speaker 1: When as it is said that the word of God
• 2:49
  Speaker 1: hath been, as it were, a lantern under the feet
• 2:51
  Speaker 1: of David, and as a light unto his paths now
• 2:55
  Speaker 1: hereby he signifieth that he meaneth not to be wise
• 2:58
  Speaker 1: in his own conceit. But hath sought how he ought
• 3:01
  Speaker 1: to be governed by the word of God, and so
• 3:03
  Speaker 1: wholly held himself there too. Now, if this hath been
• 3:07
  Speaker 1: a necessary point for David, let none of us think
• 3:10
  Speaker 1: that we can go beyond him. And see also why
• 3:13
  Speaker 1: Saint Peter, writing to all the faithful in general, telleth them,
• 3:16
  Speaker 1: that they should do very well to be attentive and
• 3:18
  Speaker 1: to take heed to the word of God, as to
• 3:20
  Speaker 1: a light shining in dark places. By this, Saint Peter
• 3:24
  Speaker 1: declareth unto us that it is not without cause that
• 3:26
  Speaker 1: David hath used this similitude of a lantern. And why so,
• 3:31
  Speaker 1: for he saith that we, being in the world, are
• 3:34
  Speaker 1: as men in the dark. And to prove it to
• 3:36
  Speaker 1: be so, I beseech you what wisdom is in any
• 3:39
  Speaker 1: of us, Although that every of us esteemeth of himself enough,
• 3:43
  Speaker 1: and a great deal more than needeth. Yet for all that,
• 3:46
  Speaker 1: when as we shall be thoroughly known, we shall find
• 3:49
  Speaker 1: all our understanding to be full of vanity and folly.
• 3:52
  Speaker 1: And although we think ourselves to have a goodly light,
• 3:55
  Speaker 1: yet are we in a deep dungeon of darkness. And besides,
• 3:59
  Speaker 1: let us see gouldom means possible to guide and govern
• 4:01
  Speaker 1: us well here in this world. Yet shall it be
• 4:04
  Speaker 1: always but darkness. Let us then understand that it cannot
• 4:08
  Speaker 1: be chosen, but that we must be as strayed wild
• 4:11
  Speaker 1: beasts without the Word of God, and that without it
• 4:14
  Speaker 1: there is neither way nor stay for us. And although
• 4:17
  Speaker 1: we think ourselves to be wise enough, Yet shall we
• 4:20
  Speaker 1: be altogether abused? And when as we shall think us
• 4:23
  Speaker 1: to be fully resolved, yet shall all our case and
• 4:25
  Speaker 1: a state be but smoke. When then we shall know
• 4:29
  Speaker 1: this to be true, we may very well say with David,
• 4:32
  Speaker 1: that the word of God is instead of a lantern
• 4:34
  Speaker 1: unto us. For what is the cause that we will
• 4:37
  Speaker 1: not be ordered and ruled by God? But either by
• 4:39
  Speaker 1: reason of our pride or else because we know not
• 4:42
  Speaker 1: our own want. Some of us are hindered through a vain,
• 4:46
  Speaker 1: foolish opinion which we have of ourselves, that we are
• 4:49
  Speaker 1: sufficiently learned to judge of that which is good and profitable. Lo,
• 4:54
  Speaker 1: here is the very cause why we will not give
• 4:56
  Speaker 1: place unto the word of God. There are other some
• 4:59
  Speaker 1: of us that, although we trust not so much unto
• 5:02
  Speaker 1: our own wisdom, yet know we not what a misery
• 5:05
  Speaker 1: it is to be here, as it were, in a
• 5:07
  Speaker 1: place of confusion, and that there is no stay of
• 5:10
  Speaker 1: all the whole course of our life. And hereupon we
• 5:13
  Speaker 1: contemn the Word of God and make no account of it.
• 5:16
  Speaker 1: So then we must come to this humility, that being
• 5:19
  Speaker 1: wholly thrown down, as touching the presumption of our wits
• 5:22
  Speaker 1: we must suffer ourselves to be taught of God. And
• 5:26
  Speaker 1: besides that we might also know that our state and
• 5:28
  Speaker 1: condition is too too miserable until such time as we
• 5:31
  Speaker 1: are lightened with this lantern. Now, then, like as David
• 5:34
  Speaker 1: showeth unto us by his example, that we ought not
• 5:37
  Speaker 1: to have any other guide nor stay but that which
• 5:40
  Speaker 1: proceedeth from the word of God, even so also showeth
• 5:43
  Speaker 1: he unto us that if so be we be teachable
• 5:46
  Speaker 1: of God and accept of Him as our schoolmaster, and
• 5:49
  Speaker 1: submit ourselves to him, that we shall find light enough
• 5:52
  Speaker 1: in His word that we need not to fear to
• 5:54
  Speaker 1: be confounded, as though we knew not which way to
• 5:57
  Speaker 1: turn us. For God will give us sufficient light in
• 6:01
  Speaker 1: his word to lead us to salvation. And this is
• 6:04
  Speaker 1: such a comfort as cannot be sufficiently enough expressed. For
• 6:07
  Speaker 1: as it is declared that we are miserable, blind fools,
• 6:11
  Speaker 1: and that whilst we walk in this world we are
• 6:13
  Speaker 1: but in darkness, see how God puteth a remedy into
• 6:17
  Speaker 1: our hands. That is that we should hear him speak,
• 6:20
  Speaker 1: and that we should learn to be ordered by His word.
• 6:22
  Speaker 1: And that then, although this same world be amazed, although
• 6:26
  Speaker 1: the devil never ceaseth craftily to invent many deceits to
• 6:29
  Speaker 1: turn us from the right way. Yet we shall be
• 6:32
  Speaker 1: assured to go straight and to attain unto salvation. And
• 6:35
  Speaker 1: by this we may see how Satan hath possessed the Papists,
• 6:39
  Speaker 1: when as they say that the Word of God is
• 6:40
  Speaker 1: so dark that we are never able once to bite
• 6:43
  Speaker 1: at it, and that we ought not to stay ourselves thereon,
• 6:46
  Speaker 1: because it is so uncertain a thing, And besides that
• 6:49
  Speaker 1: it is also a nose of wax, which a man
• 6:51
  Speaker 1: may turn what way he listeth. They shame not to
• 6:55
  Speaker 1: spew out such horrible blasphemies. But contrariwise, let us trust
• 6:59
  Speaker 1: unto the Spirit of God, speaking by the mouth of David,
• 7:02
  Speaker 1: to it that if we be lightened by the Word
• 7:04
  Speaker 1: of God, we need not to fear falling, and that
• 7:07
  Speaker 1: there is no rule so certain. For although the devil
• 7:11
  Speaker 1: went about with a thousand deceits to turn us this
• 7:13
  Speaker 1: way and that by crooked by paths, yet must we
• 7:16
  Speaker 1: be fully assured that the Word of God is a
• 7:18
  Speaker 1: lantern unto our feet to lead us the right way. Nevertheless,
• 7:22
  Speaker 1: David showeth unto us how we should feel such a
• 7:24
  Speaker 1: commodity coming unto us by the law of God, to
• 7:27
  Speaker 1: wit when as we shall receive it with a hearty affection.
• 7:30
  Speaker 1: For he saith, I have sworn and will perform it,
• 7:33
  Speaker 1: that I will keep thy righteous judgments. Now Here he
• 7:37
  Speaker 1: showeth that if there be a wavering minded spirit which
• 7:40
  Speaker 1: readeth the scriptures for curiosity's sake, the same must needs
• 7:44
  Speaker 1: remain and continue always blind and ignorant. As we shall
• 7:47
  Speaker 1: see many of them which do nothing else but turn
• 7:49
  Speaker 1: over the leaves and wander in such sort as that
• 7:52
  Speaker 1: there is neither firmness, nor yet soundness in any of them.
• 7:56
  Speaker 1: And what is the cause thereof? For sooth it is
• 8:00
  Speaker 1: because they seek not God with a right and earnest affection.
• 8:04
  Speaker 1: If we then will have the commodity which David here
• 8:06
  Speaker 1: speaketh of, we must come back again to the Word
• 8:09
  Speaker 1: of God and apply all our studies so courageously as
• 8:12
  Speaker 1: that we desire nothing else but to be instructed in
• 8:15
  Speaker 1: this truth, and to submit ourselves wholly unto it. And
• 8:18
  Speaker 1: yet David was not contented to say that this was
• 8:20
  Speaker 1: his only determination, but saith that he had sworn and
• 8:24
  Speaker 1: was steadfastly purposed to observe it. For the word which
• 8:27
  Speaker 1: he useth signifieth that I will establish it, to wit
• 8:30
  Speaker 1: I will wholly give myself unto it. For I am
• 8:33
  Speaker 1: so resolute in this matter as that I will never
• 8:35
  Speaker 1: be turned away from it. Whereby he showeth that there
• 8:38
  Speaker 1: is no question but that we have certain small motions
• 8:41
  Speaker 1: which slip us. But we must have such a fervent
• 8:44
  Speaker 1: zeal as possesseth our whole mind. And after we must,
• 8:47
  Speaker 1: with this zeal be constant, because then we shall be
• 8:50
  Speaker 1: able rightly to see those men which so trimly and
• 8:53
  Speaker 1: fairly puff and blow at us. But what this is
• 8:57
  Speaker 1: but a false fire? As we say now, if if
• 9:00
  Speaker 1: we be truly affected to serve God, the same our
• 9:03
  Speaker 1: affection must be firm and sure, that we may unfeignedly
• 9:06
  Speaker 1: say with David that we have sworn and are fully
• 9:09
  Speaker 1: purposed to stand and abide by this matter. In very deed.
• 9:13
  Speaker 1: Here may some question arise, for it should seem that
• 9:16
  Speaker 1: David hath too too much presumed of himself to swear
• 9:19
  Speaker 1: that he will keep the testimonies of God. For we
• 9:22
  Speaker 1: are not able to promise anything which is not in
• 9:24
  Speaker 1: our power and strength. If a man shall trust in
• 9:27
  Speaker 1: himself to promise that which he hath not he of
• 9:29
  Speaker 1: right is to be accused of folly. For every man
• 9:32
  Speaker 1: will say that it is great arrogancy in him, because
• 9:35
  Speaker 1: he hath passed his bounds. Now, when as we shall
• 9:38
  Speaker 1: have thoroughly considered hereof, we shall find that it is
• 9:41
  Speaker 1: impossible for any mortal man perfectly to observe the commandments
• 9:45
  Speaker 1: of God. This should seem, then, at the first sight,
• 9:47
  Speaker 1: that the oath which David here speaketh of, ought rather
• 9:50
  Speaker 1: to be reprehended than commanded. But here are two things
• 9:54
  Speaker 1: to be considered of the One is that when the
• 9:56
  Speaker 1: faithful bind themselves so unto God, they lay not this
• 9:59
  Speaker 1: foundation in their own proper strength. They look not into
• 10:02
  Speaker 1: their own ability, but they desire of God to accomplish
• 10:05
  Speaker 1: that which they have promised him. And why do they so? Now?
• 10:09
  Speaker 1: Let us note that here he speaketh of the commandments
• 10:11
  Speaker 1: of God, and we have here already declared that when
• 10:14
  Speaker 1: David nameth the law, he looketh not simply to the commandments,
• 10:18
  Speaker 1: but also to the promises. And in these promises it
• 10:20
  Speaker 1: is said that God will circumcise the hearts of his children.
• 10:24
  Speaker 1: He saith that he will so lightly touch them as
• 10:27
  Speaker 1: that he will bring them into his obedience. So then,
• 10:31
  Speaker 1: as we have already said, the faithful bind not themselves
• 10:34
  Speaker 1: to God to do anything of their own power and strength,
• 10:37
  Speaker 1: But they desire Him to fulfill whatsoever is wanting in them,
• 10:41
  Speaker 1: to supply their weakness, and to send such remedy as
• 10:43
  Speaker 1: He knoweth best to be most needful and expedient for them.
• 10:48
  Speaker 1: See then, with what confidence David hath sworn to observe
• 10:51
  Speaker 1: the testimonies of God? He did it not, I say,
• 10:54
  Speaker 1: of any vain presumption that he had conceived of his
• 10:57
  Speaker 1: own power and strength, nor yet that he was able
• 11:00
  Speaker 1: to do it. No, he attributed nothing to his own strength,
• 11:03
  Speaker 1: but sweareth and doth it by reason of the promise
• 11:07
  Speaker 1: of God, by which promise he declareth that He will,
• 11:10
  Speaker 1: by his Holy Spirit govern all those which are His
• 11:13
  Speaker 1: lo Whereupon David stayed himself. Now by and by followeth
• 11:18
  Speaker 1: a second point to wit that David hath sworn to
• 11:21
  Speaker 1: observe the testimonies, yea, even staying himself upon that which
• 11:24
  Speaker 1: God hath promised that He will uphold us through his mercy,
• 11:28
  Speaker 1: that although we halt, and that all the obedience which
• 11:32
  Speaker 1: we go about to yield unto him be weak and faulty,
• 11:35
  Speaker 1: because it is done but by halves. Yet he, not
• 11:38
  Speaker 1: having respect to all our faults, meaneth to make a
• 11:40
  Speaker 1: taste of the desire which we shall have to please him,
• 11:43
  Speaker 1: and in effect will accept our service as it is
• 11:46
  Speaker 1: dispersing with all the faults which shall be mingled amongst them.
• 11:51
  Speaker 1: Which thing David considering, was able to say that he
• 11:53
  Speaker 1: would observe the commandments of God. So then let us
• 11:57
  Speaker 1: note that when the faithful bind themselves to observe the
• 11:59
  Speaker 1: world word of God, they must not trust to themselves,
• 12:03
  Speaker 1: nor yet be puffed up with a foolish opinion that
• 12:05
  Speaker 1: they have the power to do it. But they must say,
• 12:08
  Speaker 1: accomplish thou this, o Lord, and then I will follow it,
• 12:12
  Speaker 1: write thy law, O Lord, in mine heart, and then
• 12:14
  Speaker 1: shall I have a desire to serve thee. And besides,
• 12:17
  Speaker 1: let the faithful always remember that God will not handle
• 12:20
  Speaker 1: them sharply yea. And although they fail in a great
• 12:23
  Speaker 1: number of points, so that they are not able to
• 12:25
  Speaker 1: observe one only point, nor jot perfectly, yet will He
• 12:29
  Speaker 1: spare them through His free goodness and mercy. When the
• 12:33
  Speaker 1: faithful and children of God shall have known thus much
• 12:36
  Speaker 1: and shall swear that they will observe the commandments of God.
• 12:39
  Speaker 1: Yet let them not cease for all that to fly
• 12:42
  Speaker 1: unto the forgiveness of their sins, that they may feel
• 12:45
  Speaker 1: the same to be a necessary remedy agreeable to the
• 12:48
  Speaker 1: will of God, for thee fulfilling of one part of
• 12:50
  Speaker 1: his commandments. We see now, then, why David hath sworn
• 12:55
  Speaker 1: to keep the commandments of God, and that he will
• 12:57
  Speaker 1: never change this purpose in his heart. Now he maketh
• 13:01
  Speaker 1: two requests immediately after, whereof the one is to be
• 13:04
  Speaker 1: quickened and restored. Wherein he showeth that which I have
• 13:08
  Speaker 1: already touched, which is that he was not led with
• 13:11
  Speaker 1: a foolish presumption of his own power and strength. For
• 13:14
  Speaker 1: he which desireth God to be restored, confesseth that he
• 13:18
  Speaker 1: liveth not as of himself, but that he must needs
• 13:21
  Speaker 1: live by the grace and goodness of God. And yet
• 13:24
  Speaker 1: David maketh this confession more expressly when he addeth the
• 13:27
  Speaker 1: reason why he useth to make such request, For I
• 13:31
  Speaker 1: am very sore afflicted, O Lord saith. He see then, David, who,
• 13:36
  Speaker 1: confessing himself to be troubled, and as it were, utterly
• 13:38
  Speaker 1: made nothing beseecheth God for to restore him. Shall we
• 13:42
  Speaker 1: say that he trusted his own strength, or that he
• 13:45
  Speaker 1: attributed anything whatsoever unto himself. We see the clean contrary. So, then,
• 13:51
  Speaker 1: according to that which we have already declared, let us
• 13:54
  Speaker 1: understand that he sworren not upon any vain presumption, but
• 13:58
  Speaker 1: because he knew that God would never fail him. And
• 14:01
  Speaker 1: this is the reason why he took upon him this boldness.
• 14:04
  Speaker 1: And that is it which he addeth according to thy word,
• 14:07
  Speaker 1: that is, according to Thy promises. Now we ought thoroughly
• 14:11
  Speaker 1: to consider all whatsoever that is here, said quicken me, o,
• 14:15
  Speaker 1: Lord saith he, and thus much for the first point,
• 14:18
  Speaker 1: wherein he showeth that he liveth not as of himself,
• 14:21
  Speaker 1: but desireth it of God. And afterward he addeth the reason, saying,
• 14:26
  Speaker 1: after this manner, I am very sore afflicted. Whereby he
• 14:29
  Speaker 1: declareth unto us that we are not able to relieve
• 14:32
  Speaker 1: and maintain ourselves, whenas our strength faileth us, but that
• 14:36
  Speaker 1: it is God which must put to his helping hand.
• 14:39
  Speaker 1: And besides we may be assured that He will help
• 14:42
  Speaker 1: us and be ready to restore us, so that we
• 14:45
  Speaker 1: will desire him and call upon him and have recourse
• 14:48
  Speaker 1: unto His goodness. Lo here a mighty comfort for all
• 14:52
  Speaker 1: the faithful, when as they find themselves to be so
• 14:55
  Speaker 1: without strength, as that they feel themselves to faint, to
• 14:58
  Speaker 1: be clean, cast down, and to see nothing else in
• 15:00
  Speaker 1: themselves but death. Yet may they be fully assured and
• 15:04
  Speaker 1: resolved that God will always be their watchmen to restore
• 15:08
  Speaker 1: and quicken them. And why so to wit according to
• 15:11
  Speaker 1: that which David addeth, when he saith according to Thy promises,
• 15:15
  Speaker 1: then it followeth that God hath promised to restore and
• 15:18
  Speaker 1: quicken his when as they shall be in death. And
• 15:21
  Speaker 1: therefore we shall never be able to make our request
• 15:24
  Speaker 1: in faith as David here hath done, if that we
• 15:27
  Speaker 1: have not the promises of God. For as we have
• 15:30
  Speaker 1: before said, it is a foolhardiness in men to put
• 15:33
  Speaker 1: forth themselves to pray unto God as they list, without
• 15:36
  Speaker 1: being sure and certain of His will. Before see then
• 15:39
  Speaker 1: the cause which moved David so expressly to set down
• 15:42
  Speaker 1: here the promise of God. Now, this promise was not
• 15:45
  Speaker 1: made to him alone. This is no personal privilege, as
• 15:48
  Speaker 1: we say, appertaining to one man only, but it is
• 15:52
  Speaker 1: a general rule which we must hold, that God will
• 15:55
  Speaker 1: raise up again from death those which are thrown down,
• 15:58
  Speaker 1: and as it were, made nothing yea, even when as
• 16:01
  Speaker 1: they do, call upon him and acknowledge that it cometh
• 16:04
  Speaker 1: of his own pure grace that they ought to be
• 16:07
  Speaker 1: so restored, and not otherwise. Now Here is yet another
• 16:11
  Speaker 1: request which he maketh. O, Lord, I beseech Thee. Let
• 16:15
  Speaker 1: the free will offerings of my mouth please Thee and
• 16:18
  Speaker 1: teach me thy judgments. Here David desireth God to accept
• 16:23
  Speaker 1: the praises which ye shall render unto him. For the oblations,
• 16:26
  Speaker 1: whereof David speaketh, are nothing else but praise and thanksgiving,
• 16:30
  Speaker 1: by which David acknowledgeth the benefits of God. And yet
• 16:33
  Speaker 1: for all that he in very deed looketh unto the
• 16:35
  Speaker 1: common order of the law. For when a man hath
• 16:38
  Speaker 1: been cured of a disease, or hath been delivered from
• 16:41
  Speaker 1: some danger, or else, that God hath endued him with prosperity,
• 16:45
  Speaker 1: he cometh to the church to make his oblation or
• 16:47
  Speaker 1: offering for an especial testimony, and to acknowledge how greatly
• 16:51
  Speaker 1: he is bounded unto God. David had small regard to
• 16:55
  Speaker 1: any such ceremonies. But yet he noteth and expresseth the
• 16:59
  Speaker 1: end and the use, that is that we should stay
• 17:02
  Speaker 1: us upon the principle. For if a man should sacrifice
• 17:05
  Speaker 1: a beast that were nothing at all, and wherefore then
• 17:08
  Speaker 1: serveth such manner of sacrifice, forsooth it was an aid
• 17:12
  Speaker 1: and help, because it is needful that we should be
• 17:14
  Speaker 1: always stirred up. And besides, this is a good advertisement
• 17:18
  Speaker 1: to show us that when we will give God thanks
• 17:21
  Speaker 1: for his benefits which he bestoweth upon us, we must
• 17:24
  Speaker 1: come unto Him by the mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• 17:27
  Speaker 1: For if we are not once worthy to open our
• 17:29
  Speaker 1: mouths to honor God, because our lips are unclean and defiled.
• 17:34
  Speaker 1: And so we, then, knowing our unworthiness, must come unto
• 17:37
  Speaker 1: our Lord Jesus Christ and give thanks unto God by him,
• 17:40
  Speaker 1: as also the author to the Hebrews exhorteth us to do,
• 17:44
  Speaker 1: for he namely declareth that unto us, that it is
• 17:46
  Speaker 1: only Jesus Christ which giveth us access unto God his father,
• 17:49
  Speaker 1: to confess his bounty towards us. And otherwise we shall
• 17:53
  Speaker 1: but profane his name. Yea, he will not accept our
• 17:56
  Speaker 1: praises and thanksgiving, but they shall, even as it were
• 17:59
  Speaker 1: still in his nostrils. See then, to what end the
• 18:03
  Speaker 1: sacrifices are. But David, notwithstanding, showeth that the principal end
• 18:08
  Speaker 1: of the benefits of God is that our lips should
• 18:10
  Speaker 1: open themselves to confess His goodness, when as we have
• 18:13
  Speaker 1: proved and felt it. And that is it which he
• 18:16
  Speaker 1: speaketh of in the hundredth and sixteenth sum What reward
• 18:19
  Speaker 1: shall I give unto the Lord for all the benefits
• 18:21
  Speaker 1: that he hath bestowed upon me? I will receive the
• 18:24
  Speaker 1: cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord,
• 18:27
  Speaker 1: as if he should have said that he knew none
• 18:29
  Speaker 1: other way to please God but to give thanks unto him,
• 18:32
  Speaker 1: when as he had liberally bestowed all the benefits of
• 18:35
  Speaker 1: the world upon him, in such sort as that he
• 18:37
  Speaker 1: felt himself most bounden unto his goodness. Even so likewise
• 18:42
  Speaker 1: will he be contented with us, when as we render
• 18:45
  Speaker 1: unto him such thanks. Yea. But in the meanwhile, let
• 18:49
  Speaker 1: us consider that David knew that if God had not
• 18:52
  Speaker 1: freely accepted the praises which he yielded unto him, that
• 18:55
  Speaker 1: they had been nothing worth, as we have already declared.
• 18:59
  Speaker 1: But we have of this here a sufficient and manifest confirmation.
• 19:04
  Speaker 1: What is the reason why David besought God to accept
• 19:06
  Speaker 1: the praises which he rendered unto him. He did it
• 19:09
  Speaker 1: not like an hypocrite. He confesseth, then, that when he
• 19:13
  Speaker 1: presented himself before God to magnify his name, that he
• 19:17
  Speaker 1: might very well have been put by and his mouth
• 19:19
  Speaker 1: to have been stopped. And why so, because that we
• 19:23
  Speaker 1: profane the name of God. Seeing there can proceed nothing
• 19:26
  Speaker 1: but filth and stench from those which are altogether corrupt,
• 19:30
  Speaker 1: neither can there be any one drop of goodness in them.
• 19:33
  Speaker 1: And although God hath put in to them any good virtues,
• 19:36
  Speaker 1: yet are they so intermeddled with vices as that it
• 19:39
  Speaker 1: is lamentable. And therefore David, knowing this to be, so,
• 19:43
  Speaker 1: prayeth God that his praises might please him. Now, if
• 19:46
  Speaker 1: David knew his unworthiness to be such, I beseech you
• 19:49
  Speaker 1: dareth any of us to say that we are of
• 19:52
  Speaker 1: our own power capable to magnify the name of God
• 19:55
  Speaker 1: and to render him such thanks as to him appertaineth
• 19:58
  Speaker 1: without He of his mere free good will alloweth them,
• 20:01
  Speaker 1: not imputing unto us the vices and imperfections which are
• 20:05
  Speaker 1: therewithal intermeddled, and that He will also think well of
• 20:09
  Speaker 1: our praises and thanksgiving, yea, although they deserve it, never
• 20:13
  Speaker 1: a whit. And besides, if we need to desire God
• 20:17
  Speaker 1: to accept our praises which we render unto Him, I
• 20:20
  Speaker 1: pray you what shall become of the rest? For it
• 20:24
  Speaker 1: is most certain that if there be any service which
• 20:26
  Speaker 1: pleaseth God, it is even this, when we come to
• 20:29
  Speaker 1: do our homage for whatsoever we have received at His hands,
• 20:33
  Speaker 1: and that we confess and protest that we have nothing
• 20:36
  Speaker 1: but that we hold of Him. When as we do
• 20:39
  Speaker 1: this homage unto God, Lo, this is the service which
• 20:41
  Speaker 1: He chiefly desireth of us. Lo. This is that sweet
• 20:45
  Speaker 1: smelling sacrifice which the scripture speaketh of. Now. So it
• 20:49
  Speaker 1: is that when we would do this homage unto God,
• 20:51
  Speaker 1: thereby to humble ourselves, Yet may it be amended in
• 20:55
  Speaker 1: such sort as that we deserve to have it, to
• 20:57
  Speaker 1: be put by and to be disallowed? What shall then
• 21:01
  Speaker 1: become of our other mean services? And in effect of
• 21:04
  Speaker 1: all our whole life? Shall we now go and glorify
• 21:07
  Speaker 1: Him with our merits, as the papists do, who lift
• 21:10
  Speaker 1: up their heads against God with an hoarish shamelessness, for
• 21:14
  Speaker 1: they think that God is beholden to them or else,
• 21:16
  Speaker 1: although they have offended His majesty. Yet after that they
• 21:20
  Speaker 1: have reckoned with him, they think that they may very
• 21:22
  Speaker 1: well recompense Him with their satisfactions. Go too. Now, let
• 21:27
  Speaker 1: us think thus of ourselves that when we see that
• 21:29
  Speaker 1: in the very best and most requisite yea, and as
• 21:32
  Speaker 1: it were, the very flower of all our good works,
• 21:35
  Speaker 1: even of those wherein God guideth us that they do
• 21:38
  Speaker 1: nothing else but stink, except God himself cleanse them, to
• 21:41
  Speaker 1: make them sweet, and taketh from them these superfluities and
• 21:44
  Speaker 1: filthiness which are in them. Now, if of all our
• 21:48
  Speaker 1: good works, yea, even of the most excellent, we are
• 21:51
  Speaker 1: exhorted to crave pardon of God for them, what shall
• 21:54
  Speaker 1: become of our gross and over manifest sins whereof we
• 21:57
  Speaker 1: are convinced, and whereof men YEA, and young children may
• 22:00
  Speaker 1: reprehend us. So then see here an excellent place which
• 22:04
  Speaker 1: rightly abolisheth all vain and devilish confidences, wherewith we deceive ourselves,
• 22:09
  Speaker 1: when as we think to stand before the majesty of
• 22:12
  Speaker 1: God with our merits and such other like Gewgauz and
• 22:15
  Speaker 1: trifling toys. I know not what thinking thereby to recompense him.
• 22:21
  Speaker 1: And thus much for this verse. Now, David afterward saith,
• 22:25
  Speaker 1: my soul is always in my hand. Yet do I
• 22:28
  Speaker 1: not forget Thy law. The ungodly have laid a snare
• 22:31
  Speaker 1: for me. But yet I swerve not from Thy commandment.
• 22:34
  Speaker 1: Here David protesteth as before that he had such a
• 22:38
  Speaker 1: resolute affection to follow the word of God, as that
• 22:40
  Speaker 1: no temptations could withdraw him from it. And see how
• 22:44
  Speaker 1: we may say that we serve God without hypocrisy and
• 22:47
  Speaker 1: in truth. For if we be easily and gently dealt withal,
• 22:51
  Speaker 1: so we have no affliction. That our God handleth us
• 22:55
  Speaker 1: as we would wish, and leaveth us to our own pleasure.
• 22:57
  Speaker 1: Or else, if He so much favorth us, as that
• 23:00
  Speaker 1: we are not pressed with any griefs and sorrows, it
• 23:04
  Speaker 1: is an easy matter then for us to serve and
• 23:06
  Speaker 1: honor Him. But when God afflicteth us, that it seemeth
• 23:10
  Speaker 1: he would oppress and grieve us every minute of an hour,
• 23:13
  Speaker 1: when we see death pursuing us on every side, that
• 23:16
  Speaker 1: the ungodly are wholly about us, as it were ready
• 23:20
  Speaker 1: to pull out our eyes and our life so wretched
• 23:23
  Speaker 1: as that the world judgeth us to be as it
• 23:25
  Speaker 1: were reprobates. When then all these temptations shall touch us.
• 23:29
  Speaker 1: And yet we remain still constant, praising of God and
• 23:32
  Speaker 1: holding us unto Him, persevering in his obedience, and calling
• 23:35
  Speaker 1: upon Him, being patient in all our afflictions, until such
• 23:39
  Speaker 1: time as He delivereth us. When we have all this,
• 23:42
  Speaker 1: we may then say with David that we have displaced
• 23:45
  Speaker 1: and laid wide open our life to serve God. And
• 23:48
  Speaker 1: this shall be a good and sure proof thereof. But
• 23:51
  Speaker 1: if we have not this constancy, a great number may
• 23:54
  Speaker 1: make a wonderful show of Godliness before the face of
• 23:56
  Speaker 1: the world, but all that shall prove nothing. So let
• 24:00
  Speaker 1: us well consider of this place, for David spake not
• 24:03
  Speaker 1: this for himself, but for our common instruction. And besides,
• 24:08
  Speaker 1: if we will indeed profit ourselves by this doctrine, let
• 24:11
  Speaker 1: us consider that if we sometimes see the apparent dangers
• 24:14
  Speaker 1: of death, so that we be pressed down on every side,
• 24:17
  Speaker 1: not to think it to be any strange thing. And
• 24:19
  Speaker 1: why so, because the same came to pass as greatly
• 24:23
  Speaker 1: sometimes to David. For he saith that he was not
• 24:25
  Speaker 1: without continual trouble. My soul, saith, he is always in
• 24:29
  Speaker 1: my hand. My life is as it were. I can
• 24:32
  Speaker 1: tell not where it is put forth to abide all mischief,
• 24:36
  Speaker 1: that it seemeth I were at death's door every minute
• 24:39
  Speaker 1: of an hour. If David was always thus troubled, and
• 24:42
  Speaker 1: yet persevered in the praising of God, I beseech you
• 24:45
  Speaker 1: ought not we to be ashamed, to be fainthearted, when
• 24:49
  Speaker 1: as it shall please God to exercise us only but
• 24:51
  Speaker 1: now and then, even so, although afflictions oppress us, yet
• 24:56
  Speaker 1: must we not cease to fight against them, attending and
• 24:58
  Speaker 1: craving the help of God, and thus much for this
• 25:03
  Speaker 1: and besides, when we are thus assured, let us seek
• 25:07
  Speaker 1: our comfort where it may be found, that is in
• 25:09
  Speaker 1: the word of God, and to be thus constant, never
• 25:12
  Speaker 1: to forget the law of God. Let us then consider
• 25:15
  Speaker 1: and observe this doctrine. For it is not without cause
• 25:18
  Speaker 1: that David saith that, although my soul be in my hand,
• 25:21
  Speaker 1: yet have I not forgotten Thy law. He showeth us
• 25:25
  Speaker 1: hereby that as we are weak, so we should be
• 25:28
  Speaker 1: soon shaken and in the end thrown down, When as
• 25:31
  Speaker 1: we should see ourselves laid wide open to death. We, then,
• 25:34
  Speaker 1: having this understanding, ought to stand upon our guard to
• 25:37
  Speaker 1: the end. The devil might never beguide us under the
• 25:40
  Speaker 1: color that God had as it were, forsaken us, and
• 25:43
  Speaker 1: that we should be as it were in the shadow
• 25:45
  Speaker 1: of death. Moreover, we see what doltishness, or rather beastliness
• 25:50
  Speaker 1: this is amongst the papists. To take this place for
• 25:53
  Speaker 1: proof of free will. My soul is in my hand.
• 25:56
  Speaker 1: To it I am able of mine own nature and
• 26:00
  Speaker 1: of my own proper strength, to discern between good and evil,
• 26:02
  Speaker 1: and to do whatsoever I think best. If brute beasts
• 26:05
  Speaker 1: could speak, they would speak a little wiselier than thus.
• 26:09
  Speaker 1: For to what purpose should David say, Although, O Lord,
• 26:12
  Speaker 1: that my soul is in my hand, yet have I
• 26:14
  Speaker 1: not forgotten Thy law? He should altogether speak clean against nature.
• 26:20
  Speaker 1: But as we have already declared, this is a kind
• 26:23
  Speaker 1: of speech much used in the scripture, to say that
• 26:25
  Speaker 1: the life of man is in his hand. It is
• 26:28
  Speaker 1: as it were in the wind, or I know not
• 26:30
  Speaker 1: where let us now come unto the protestation which he addeth.
• 26:36
  Speaker 1: The ungodly have laid a snare for me. But yet
• 26:39
  Speaker 1: I swerved not from Thy commandments. This sentence is like
• 26:44
  Speaker 1: unto the other which we are about to handle. For
• 26:46
  Speaker 1: he showeth how his life was in his hand to it.
• 26:49
  Speaker 1: That over, and besides the afflictions which were directly sent
• 26:51
  Speaker 1: him from the hand of God, that the wicked also
• 26:54
  Speaker 1: persecuted him as well. And besides the violences and outrages
• 26:57
  Speaker 1: that were done unto him, he had also secret ambush
• 27:00
  Speaker 1: is laid for him. See then, how diversely he is oppressed,
• 27:04
  Speaker 1: and yet he never shrank from the law of God.
• 27:08
  Speaker 1: In the end, he addeth and saith, thy testimonies, have
• 27:11
  Speaker 1: I claimed as mine heritage forever, for they are the
• 27:14
  Speaker 1: very joy of mine heart. Now Here he showeth how
• 27:18
  Speaker 1: he was able to remain firm and constant without being
• 27:21
  Speaker 1: withdrawn by any temptations, but that he always stood steadfastly
• 27:25
  Speaker 1: in the law of God. That is because he always
• 27:28
  Speaker 1: chose it for his heritage, that is, for his chief felicity.
• 27:32
  Speaker 1: For this word heritage in the scripture is taken for
• 27:35
  Speaker 1: the thing that man most desireth and that which most
• 27:38
  Speaker 1: properly belongeth unto him. To be short, it is such
• 27:41
  Speaker 1: a similitude as that is which is spoken of the treasure,
• 27:45
  Speaker 1: as if a man should call it the sovereign good,
• 27:47
  Speaker 1: the true and perfect felicity. See then at what end
• 27:51
  Speaker 1: we must begin, if in the midst of death we
• 27:53
  Speaker 1: will abide so constantly as David hath done to keep
• 27:57
  Speaker 1: the law of God, that is, I say, to choose
• 27:59
  Speaker 1: it for our inheritance. And how is that? First of
• 28:03
  Speaker 1: all we must understand that all the commodities, whereunto we
• 28:06
  Speaker 1: are overmuch given, are transitory, without certainty, and without property,
• 28:11
  Speaker 1: for we may want them every hand, While neither can
• 28:14
  Speaker 1: we enjoy anything, be it never so justly given, but
• 28:17
  Speaker 1: that we may be robbed of it betwixt this day
• 28:19
  Speaker 1: and to morrow. What is then the surest felicity which
• 28:24
  Speaker 1: we can have and may enjoy forever. It is even
• 28:26
  Speaker 1: the Word of God. And this is it which we
• 28:29
  Speaker 1: ought chiefly to desire, and wherein we are especially to rejoice.
• 28:33
  Speaker 1: Lo then, how we must understand that which David here
• 28:36
  Speaker 1: protesteth that he hath chosen the Word of God for
• 28:39
  Speaker 1: his heritage. Yea, and he setteth it down by and
• 28:43
  Speaker 1: by after that it hath been the very joy of
• 28:45
  Speaker 1: his heart. For until such time as we have had
• 28:47
  Speaker 1: this taste in the Word of God, that we truly
• 28:50
  Speaker 1: joy in it. It is a sign that we never
• 28:53
  Speaker 1: yet had any good affection there too at all. And
• 28:56
  Speaker 1: although we have known that our chief Felicity lieth farein,
• 29:00
  Speaker 1: yet are we not well able to keep ourselves in
• 29:02
  Speaker 1: it until such time as we have conceived that it
• 29:05
  Speaker 1: is that wherein we must delight, and in none other thing.
• 29:09
  Speaker 1: Now it is impossible that we should ever take any
• 29:12
  Speaker 1: delight or pleasure in the Law of God, except we
• 29:15
  Speaker 1: did know that He declareth himself to us in it,
• 29:17
  Speaker 1: that He is our father and taketh us for his children.
• 29:20
  Speaker 1: That we have a testimony that our sins are forgiven us,
• 29:23
  Speaker 1: that we may have access unto Him and be able
• 29:26
  Speaker 1: to call upon Him in all our necessities. If God
• 29:29
  Speaker 1: saith only unto us, Lo, what is it that I
• 29:32
  Speaker 1: would have you to do? I would have you to
• 29:34
  Speaker 1: take me for your God and to serve me with
• 29:36
  Speaker 1: all your heart. If we have but these two tables
• 29:39
  Speaker 1: to look into to know what we have to do,
• 29:42
  Speaker 1: shall the law of God delight us No? But contrariwise
• 29:45
  Speaker 1: it shall fear us. We see then very well, when
• 29:48
  Speaker 1: David saith that he took all his delight and pleasure
• 29:51
  Speaker 1: in the commandments of God, that he had not simply
• 29:54
  Speaker 1: the bare word of the law to say that God
• 29:56
  Speaker 1: commanded him that which he ought to do, but that
• 29:59
  Speaker 1: he also join when the promises there too, because that God,
• 30:02
  Speaker 1: willing his children to come unto him, promiseth to make
• 30:05
  Speaker 1: them feel His goodness and fatherly love, which he useth
• 30:08
  Speaker 1: towards those that are his to be short he showeth
• 30:11
  Speaker 1: them that all their felicity consisteth in His only mercy.
• 30:16
  Speaker 1: He saith, in the end, I have applied mine heart
• 30:18
  Speaker 1: to fulfill Thy statutes. Always even unto the end. Now
• 30:23
  Speaker 1: when he saith that he inclineth his heart to observe
• 30:26
  Speaker 1: the commandments of God, he showeth us what service it
• 30:29
  Speaker 1: is that God requireth that is a voluntary and willing service.
• 30:34
  Speaker 1: See here yet a point which ought well to be
• 30:36
  Speaker 1: considered of. To the end, we should not think that
• 30:39
  Speaker 1: we are ever able to please God when as we
• 30:42
  Speaker 1: serve Him constrainedly, as we see the miserable and wretched
• 30:46
  Speaker 1: faithless do which greatly torment themselves. And why so, for
• 30:51
  Speaker 1: all that they do, they do it constrainedly because they
• 30:53
  Speaker 1: would the better escape the hand of God. But when
• 30:56
  Speaker 1: they come near unto Him, as well as they may
• 30:59
  Speaker 1: it is, but as it were enforced and constrained, because
• 31:02
  Speaker 1: He is their judge. Now, if we have such a
• 31:05
  Speaker 1: constant desire, as we term it, that we are enforced
• 31:08
  Speaker 1: to do that which we are commanded, our whole case
• 31:11
  Speaker 1: is little worth. And God will never allow of it.
• 31:14
  Speaker 1: And why so, because He liketh of nothing else but
• 31:17
  Speaker 1: of obedience, and would have us come unto him with
• 31:20
  Speaker 1: frank and willing minds. See then, why David saith that
• 31:24
  Speaker 1: he hath inclined his heart to keep the commandments of God.
• 31:27
  Speaker 1: Not that he protesteth that he hath done it of himself,
• 31:30
  Speaker 1: nor of his own mind, but because that God hath
• 31:33
  Speaker 1: given him both the will and the power to do
• 31:35
  Speaker 1: the same, and to prove it to be so. We
• 31:38
  Speaker 1: shall never see that David braggeth of himself in any
• 31:42
  Speaker 1: one place, that he willed any good, being so led
• 31:44
  Speaker 1: of his own proper mind. He will never say that
• 31:47
  Speaker 1: it was his natural inclination. But Saith clean contrary, I
• 31:51
  Speaker 1: was conceived in sin. Saith, he he refereth nothing to
• 31:54
  Speaker 1: himself but all that which is naught. When then, in
• 31:57
  Speaker 1: this behalf he protesteth that he had inclined and his
• 32:00
  Speaker 1: heart he only showeth what the grace of God was
• 32:03
  Speaker 1: in him. And for conclusion he addeth that he did
• 32:06
  Speaker 1: it forever, or even unto the end, or this is
• 32:10
  Speaker 1: it which we have touched. Heretofore to wit, we must
• 32:13
  Speaker 1: not be like sudden blasts which pass by and by,
• 32:16
  Speaker 1: but we must be constant, and that when we shall
• 32:19
  Speaker 1: have once begun, we must pray unto God, that he
• 32:22
  Speaker 1: will continue the same our well doing which he hath
• 32:25
  Speaker 1: begun in us, and to hold us by the hand
• 32:27
  Speaker 1: until such time as we have finished our course. After
• 32:32
  Speaker 1: he had said forever, he addeth, even unto the end.
• 32:36
  Speaker 1: It is very true that the saying which he here
• 32:38
  Speaker 1: useth importeth sometimes salary or reward. But in this place,
• 32:42
  Speaker 1: as in the first verse of the letter, he he
• 32:45
  Speaker 1: useth the self same saying it signifieth, but to the end,
• 32:51
  Speaker 1: as if he should have said. We may alter and
• 32:53
  Speaker 1: change our minds in other things, but we must follow
• 32:55
  Speaker 1: unto the death. When God calleth us unto him, being
• 32:58
  Speaker 1: assured that in this pursuit we cannot fail to come
• 33:02
  Speaker 1: to the true end without to fail and err forever.
• 33:06
  Speaker 1: And according to this holy doctrine, let us prostrate ourselves
• 33:09
  Speaker 1: before the majesty of our good God in acknowledging our faults,
• 33:12
  Speaker 1: beseeching him that it would please him to make us
• 33:14
  Speaker 1: so thoroughly to feel them, as that we may, in
• 33:17
  Speaker 1: all humility be able to crave pardon of him for them,
• 33:21
  Speaker 1: groaning for all the offenses which we have committed against him,
• 33:24
  Speaker 1: and that in the meanwhile also we may have recourse
• 33:27
  Speaker 1: unto him, beseeching him to remedy all our vices and imperfections,
• 33:31
  Speaker 1: and so to confirm our weakness, as that, being strengthened
• 33:34
  Speaker 1: by him, we might overcome all the temptations wherewith Satan
• 33:37
  Speaker 1: can any way assail us. That being more and more
• 33:40
  Speaker 1: confirmed in his holy doctrine, we desire nothing else but
• 33:43
  Speaker 1: to submit ourselves unto it, and to be squared by
• 33:46
  Speaker 1: none other rule but by that which He hath given
• 33:49
  Speaker 1: unto us through his word. That it would not please
• 33:52
  Speaker 1: him only to grant unto us this grace, but unto
• 33:55
  Speaker 1: all people and nations of the world, et cetera. End
• 33:59
  Speaker 1: of soir than fourteen