Latest / Sermons on Psalm 119 / 018 - Sermon 17 Verses 129-136

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018 - Sermon 17 Verses 129-136 · Sermons on Psalm 119

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  Speaker 1: Sermon seventeen of Sermons on Psalm one hundred and nineteen
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  Speaker 1: by John Calvin, translated by Thomas Stocker. This LibriVox recording
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  Speaker 1: is in the public domain. Peh, Thy testimonies are wonderful.
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  Speaker 1: Therefore doth my soul keep them the entrance into thy words,
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  Speaker 1: showeth light and giveth understanding unto the simple. I opened
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  Speaker 1: my mouth and panted, because I love thy commandments. Look
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  Speaker 1: thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou
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  Speaker 1: usest to do to those that love thy name. Order
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  Speaker 1: my steps in thy word, and let no wickedness have
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  Speaker 1: dominion over me. Oh, deliver me from the wrongful dealings
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  Speaker 1: of men, And I will keep thy commandments. Show the
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  Speaker 1: light of thy countenance upon thy servant, and teach me
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  Speaker 1: thy statutes. Mine eyes gush out with rivers of water,
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  Speaker 1: because men keep not thy law. In very deed, the
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  Speaker 1: sentence contained in this first verse of the eight should
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  Speaker 1: be a very ordinary and common thing with us, And
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  Speaker 1: in very deed there is no man but will confess
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  Speaker 1: it to be true. But yet it is so very
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  Speaker 1: far off as that there is none of us all
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  Speaker 1: which hath the feeling thereof in himself. That is that
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  Speaker 1: the law of God is a wonderful wisdom, for we
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  Speaker 1: do see how it is contemned and despised. It is
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  Speaker 1: very true that God, in all the Holy Scripture speaketh
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  Speaker 1: sharply enough and also humbly. But it is for this
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  Speaker 1: cause that He would fit himself to our simple capacities.
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  Speaker 1: And because that we are blockish and earthly, it is
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  Speaker 1: meet that he should so plainly speak, as that we
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  Speaker 1: might understand him. Nevertheless, in this speech, which carries no
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  Speaker 1: great glory with it, nor yet is colored with any
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  Speaker 1: worldly eloquence, are certain secrets which may very well ravish
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  Speaker 1: us with marvelous astonishment. And in very deed, the very
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  Speaker 1: cause why these faithless and contemners of God so little
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  Speaker 1: esteem of the doctrine of salvation is that they, being brutish,
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  Speaker 1: never tasted of that which it mean us to utter.
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  Speaker 1: See then, whereupon this pride and ungodliness ariseth, which we
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  Speaker 1: see it this day to be in the greater part
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  Speaker 1: of the world, so that there are very few which
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  Speaker 1: bear that reverence to the word of God as they ought.
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  Speaker 1: For it is an old saying, no man can love
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  Speaker 1: a thing before such time as he knoweth it. They then,
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  Speaker 1: which are so blockish as that they have neither sense
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  Speaker 1: nor judgment rightly to discern of the truth of God,
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  Speaker 1: slip it over yea and tread such an inestimable treasure
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  Speaker 1: as it is under their feet. But they which have
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  Speaker 1: once known what it is that God teacheth us in
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  Speaker 1: the Holy Scripture, may very well say with David that
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  Speaker 1: they are wonderful things and so high mysteries, as that
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  Speaker 1: we ought to wonder at them, and do deserve that
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  Speaker 1: every one of us should wholly apply his mind there too.
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  Speaker 1: Now he saith that for this cause his soul that
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  Speaker 1: keep the testimonies of God. This importeth a greater matter
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  Speaker 1: than if he had simply said I have kept them,
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  Speaker 1: For he signifieth that he hath kept them. As we
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  Speaker 1: say with an hearty affection. And Lo, how indeed we
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  Speaker 1: ought to esteem of the doctrine of God. It is
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  Speaker 1: not only to have an opinion that it is excellent
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  Speaker 1: and worthy to be had in sovereign and high honor,
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  Speaker 1: but that we should be very earnestly touched therewith that
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  Speaker 1: we might have such a fear and an obedience rooted
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  Speaker 1: in our hearts as that the saying of the prophet
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  Speaker 1: Isiah might be fulfilled in us, that we might tremble
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  Speaker 1: at the voice of our God. Lo Here in effect
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  Speaker 1: the content of the first verse of these eight which
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  Speaker 1: we are now about to handle. That is to say,
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  Speaker 1: that the faithful whose eyes God hath opened, might know
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  Speaker 1: that the Holy Scripture containeth no common doctrine, but such
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  Speaker 1: a wise doctrine as is worthy to be reverenced and
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  Speaker 1: honored all the world over. Now, when as we shall
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  Speaker 1: once have known, that God layeth wide open his heavenly
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  Speaker 1: mysteries in his law, it is good reason that we,
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  Speaker 1: for our part be touched and moved to hearken unto
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  Speaker 1: our God when he speaketh unto us. YEA, And that
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  Speaker 1: in such sort as that he handleth no small and
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  Speaker 1: light matters and of no importance, but openeth unto us
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  Speaker 1: his mysteries, which are far beyond our reach and capacities,
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  Speaker 1: except that of His infinite goodness he bear us that
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  Speaker 1: favor to fit himself to our understandings. Now, David addeth
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  Speaker 1: in the second verse the entrance into Thy words showeth
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  Speaker 1: light and giveth understanding unto the most simple. Wherein he
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  Speaker 1: signifieth that if we understand not all the mysteries of
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  Speaker 1: God which he showeth unto us in his word. We
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  Speaker 1: must not straightaways therefore say that the doctrine is unprofitable
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  Speaker 1: unto us. Why so, because the only savor which we
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  Speaker 1: shall feel therein shall profit us. It is not needful
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  Speaker 1: that we be great clerks nor perfect doctors to receive
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  Speaker 1: some benefit and edifying from the Word of God, for
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  Speaker 1: we cannot have so small an entrance into it, but
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  Speaker 1: that we shall become already both wise and well advised.
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  Speaker 1: Though here in some the meaning of the second verse,
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  Speaker 1: and it is a place which we very well ought
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  Speaker 1: to observe. For like as, there are great sort of
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  Speaker 1: people which make no account the Word of God, because
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  Speaker 1: they never tasted of the mysteries therein contained. Even so
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  Speaker 1: also there are some which excuse themselves and say that
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  Speaker 1: the Word of God is too too dark and hard,
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  Speaker 1: insomuch that it maketh them to fly from it, and
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  Speaker 1: dare not come near it. Alas will one say, I
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  Speaker 1: am a very ignorant soul, or I am not so
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  Speaker 1: sharp witted as indeed a man would judge, Or else
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  Speaker 1: I am but a simple scholar, and therefore cannot conceive
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  Speaker 1: of so high mysteries. Lo hear what excuses a number
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  Speaker 1: of men will make because they would not be acquainted
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  Speaker 1: with the Word of God. No doubt of it. We
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  Speaker 1: shall have of those people which will use such excuses
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  Speaker 1: and starting holes, only because they would be ignorant and
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  Speaker 1: have their eyes fast closed up, although they have the
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  Speaker 1: light of God to shine upon them. Again, there are
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  Speaker 1: another sort which will keep themselves clean away from the
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  Speaker 1: Word of God, fearing that if they should once enter
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  Speaker 1: into it, that it would be like unto a maze,
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  Speaker 1: wherein they should be held fast in, and so be
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  Speaker 1: utterly confounded. And therefore let us, for this cause thoroughly
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  Speaker 1: consider the saying of David to it that although we
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  Speaker 1: attain not unto such a perfection as that we are
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  Speaker 1: able to understand and know whatsoever is written in the
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  Speaker 1: Holy scriptures, and be so exercised therein even at the
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  Speaker 1: full as that nothing escaped us. But let us be
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  Speaker 1: thoroughly acquainted with the law and have the very true
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  Speaker 1: and undoubted exposition and meaning of the prophets YEA, and
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  Speaker 1: let us know and understand the Gospel at our fingers ends.
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  Speaker 1: And yet, although I say we have not attained unto
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  Speaker 1: this excellency, let us not for this cease to be enlightened.
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  Speaker 1: Let us then boldly approach when as we see that
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  Speaker 1: God calleth and allureth us, and is ready to teach
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  Speaker 1: us his word. And let us know that when we
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  Speaker 1: shall have never so little a taste thereof, that it
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  Speaker 1: shall be for our salvation, so that we shall not
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  Speaker 1: be altogether blind, but that we may be able to
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  Speaker 1: know which is the right way unto everlasting life. To
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  Speaker 1: be short. We shall be enlightened, as David speaketh of
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  Speaker 1: in this place, and hereby we may see what a
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  Speaker 1: great abuse so this day reigneth in this point in popery,
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  Speaker 1: when as they shall put by the greater part of
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  Speaker 1: Christendom from the reading of the Holy Scripture under a color,
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  Speaker 1: it should thereby be utterly confounded, and again, being never
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  Speaker 1: able once to come to have any taste thereof, that
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  Speaker 1: it is over higher thing for them to meddle with.
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  Speaker 1: Now this is to make the Holy Ghost a manifest liar,
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  Speaker 1: who hath spoken and pronounced by the mouth of David,
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  Speaker 1: that which we have already heard, that the first entrance
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  Speaker 1: into the Word of God showeth light insomuch that so
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  Speaker 1: soon as we shall have understood, but only one sentence
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  Speaker 1: thereof the same to be already even enough to lead
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  Speaker 1: and guide us to everlasting life. Now, since then we
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  Speaker 1: see how the devil possesseth the papists, when as under
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  Speaker 1: such a cloak they withdraw the simple people from the
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  Speaker 1: reading of the Word of God. Yea in forbidding it
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  Speaker 1: them with such a cruel tyranny. Let us, for our part,
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  Speaker 1: having so good and sure a ground, take great heed
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  Speaker 1: how we waver, and how we always abide wittingly ignorant,
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  Speaker 1: considering that God, having openly and at large manifested himself
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  Speaker 1: unto us, continueth still more and more our good God,
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  Speaker 1: and giveth us so great leisure and large a time
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  Speaker 1: to profit in his school. And why so, because the
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  Speaker 1: entry alone is clear and bright, what will it then
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  Speaker 1: be when as we shall enter on somewhat further, that
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  Speaker 1: even in the very entrance we find salvation? In what case, then,
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  Speaker 1: I beseech you shall we be when as we shall
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  Speaker 1: have once passed the midway on and to the end,
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  Speaker 1: that David might the better express that the question is
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  Speaker 1: not here of the great learned doctors inamely saith that
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  Speaker 1: it giveth instruction to the simple and silly souls to
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  Speaker 1: the end they might have light and understanding, as if
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  Speaker 1: he should have said that God hath so communicated his
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  Speaker 1: word unto us, and in such sort framed and wrought
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  Speaker 1: it for our understanding, as that there is not the
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  Speaker 1: most simple and ignorant which shall not find himself capable
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  Speaker 1: to be the scholar of God. Yea, so that we
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  Speaker 1: come unto it in all lowliness and humbleness. For it
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  Speaker 1: in saying that the word of God maketh thelowly to
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  Speaker 1: understand right well showeth that if we come unto it
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  Speaker 1: in the pride of our own minds, presuming of our
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  Speaker 1: own fine heads, as in this point a great number
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  Speaker 1: of proud and glorious men do, who will rather control
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  Speaker 1: God than submit themselves unto Him and to his word,
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  Speaker 1: no doubt of it, we shall be left in the dark.
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  Speaker 1: For let us not be abashed. Although such people of
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  Speaker 1: whom I have already spoken do continually remain most blockish.
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  Speaker 1: But we, for our parts, ought to know that we
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  Speaker 1: must be humbled and thrown down in ourselves to the
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  Speaker 1: end God might lighten us. And then let us not doubt,
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  Speaker 1: but that we shall feel God to be ever more
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  Speaker 1: ready to play the part of a good schoolmaster unto us,
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  Speaker 1: when as we shall show ourselves to be true and
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  Speaker 1: dutiful scholars. Now by and by followeth I opened my
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  Speaker 1: mouth and panted. He was scarcely able to fetch his breath,
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  Speaker 1: and by this is signified the fervent zeal which he had,
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  Speaker 1: which was to be well instructed in the law of God.
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  Speaker 1: Now Here David showeth how it is that we would
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  Speaker 1: be enlightened. That is that, after we are known to
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  Speaker 1: be lowly and humbled, feeling our want and necessity, let
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  Speaker 1: us sigh and groan under the majesty of our God
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  Speaker 1: in beseeching him to instruct us. For we shall not
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  Speaker 1: need to be greatly learned for our right and perfect walking,
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  Speaker 1: if we truly and earnestly desire to be his scholars
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  Speaker 1: and to prefer his word before all other things. David
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  Speaker 1: might very well say, O, Lord, I have desired to
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  Speaker 1: understand that which thou hast showed me by thy law,
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  Speaker 1: and yet contented he not himself with this only saying,
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  Speaker 1: but sayth namely that he opened his mouth as a
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  Speaker 1: four pound ghost who is no longer able to abide it,
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  Speaker 1: and afterward he saith that he drew in his breath,
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  Speaker 1: that he was so zealous as that it took away,
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  Speaker 1: as it were, his very speech from him. There is
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  Speaker 1: no doubt that David meant here the single affection wherewith
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  Speaker 1: he was touched, not for any desire he had to
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  Speaker 1: commend himself, but to show unto us by his example,
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  Speaker 1: what our office and duty is towards God, that is
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  Speaker 1: that we should seek to profit ourselves by His word.
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  Speaker 1: Now when we have here to note that, even then
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  Speaker 1: we shall be inflamed with the word of God, when
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  Speaker 1: as we shall have yea even such a vehement desire
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  Speaker 1: as hereof is mention made, and as hath been before
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  Speaker 1: spoken of, that the word of God ought to be
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  Speaker 1: more dear and precious unto us than all the riches
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  Speaker 1: of the world, and more sweet than all other sweetness
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  Speaker 1: in the earth. When then we shall have such a
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  Speaker 1: desire as this, we shall find God to be always
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  Speaker 1: ready to accomplish that which is said in the Song
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  Speaker 1: of the Holy Virgin, that He hath filled and satisfied
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  Speaker 1: the hungry and empty. God will satisfy and fill those
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  Speaker 1: that hunger. After the things which concern but this present
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  Speaker 1: life And do you think that, when we shall be
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  Speaker 1: desirous of his doctrine, knowing it to be the most
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  Speaker 1: principal benefit that we can possibly wish, and whereunto we
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  Speaker 1: ought to apply our whole heart, that He will let
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  Speaker 1: us famish. Do you suppose that He will not grant
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  Speaker 1: us so wholly a desire and such a one as
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  Speaker 1: he approveth above all the rest. But by the way,
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  Speaker 1: let us consider that we perceive not at this day
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  Speaker 1: the prophet and edifying which David bringeth unto us in
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  Speaker 1: this place, because indeed we are over cold to seek
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  Speaker 1: after the will of God, and to say, truly, I
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  Speaker 1: beseech you, can we find one amongst an hundred which
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  Speaker 1: desireth it? I say, yea such a one as only
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  Speaker 1: hath that affection to be taught of God. We see
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  Speaker 1: to the contrary, that we shall not need the very
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  Speaker 1: least trifling toy to keep us at the gaze, because
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  Speaker 1: we are so full of all vanity as is lamentable.
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  Speaker 1: Neither can the devil no sooner set anything before us
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  Speaker 1: which we will not run after and take occasion to
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  Speaker 1: be withdrawn from all whatsoever is good and godly. Now, then,
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  Speaker 1: when as we shall see ourselves to be thus cold.
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  Speaker 1: Is this to come with such a fervency as is
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  Speaker 1: here declared unto us by David? Alas where shall we
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  Speaker 1: find it? Ought we not then even to be abashed,
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  Speaker 1: when as we shall see so few to be taught
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  Speaker 1: truly of God, considering that so small a number of
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  Speaker 1: people are touched to the quick with a true desire
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  Speaker 1: of His doctrine. But we ought rather to think it
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  Speaker 1: more strange, when as we seeing God to be so
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  Speaker 1: full of loving kindness as to bear with our negligence,
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  Speaker 1: that instead of opening our mouths and to desire His
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  Speaker 1: heavenly doctrine, as David has done, we open our mouths
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  Speaker 1: to crave such things as do nothing else but offend
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  Speaker 1: and grieve the majesty of God. For in that is
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  Speaker 1: our whole delight, and upon it bestow we all our
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  Speaker 1: power and strength. When then we shall, after this sort
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  Speaker 1: forsake God and seek after the transitory things of this world. Yea,
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  Speaker 1: the witch cannot but hurt and lead into everlasting destruction?
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  Speaker 1: Are we not worthy that God should leave and forsake
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  Speaker 1: us as most miserable and wretched catiffs? And therefore this
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  Speaker 1: doctrine is not here set down in vain. Let us
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  Speaker 1: then understand that God meaneth here to exhort us by
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  Speaker 1: the example of David, that if we will be well
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  Speaker 1: instructed by His word, we ought with such an humility
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  Speaker 1: as here mention is made of, to come unto Him
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  Speaker 1: with an earnest desire and zeal, knowing this to be
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  Speaker 1: such a benefit as deserves to be preferred above all
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  Speaker 1: the rest, even to know the will and love of
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  Speaker 1: God towards us, considering that in it consisteth and resteth
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  Speaker 1: our whole salvation. Now it followeth in the fourth verse,
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  Speaker 1: look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as
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  Speaker 1: thou usest to do to those that love Thy name. Here,
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  Speaker 1: David right well showeth what the desires and petitions of
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  Speaker 1: all the children of God ought to be, to it
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  Speaker 1: that they must hang upon the mere mercies of God,
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  Speaker 1: and to know that all their felicity consisteth therein, and
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  Speaker 1: so to stay themselves upon this ground and foundation, that
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  Speaker 1: God looketh with his eye upon them to guide and
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  Speaker 1: govern them. Now this thing is greatly to be observed,
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  Speaker 1: because that men commonly make themselves believe that they shall
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  Speaker 1: be blessed if they may not obtain that which their
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  Speaker 1: flesh desireth as when the glutton shall have wherewithal to
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  Speaker 1: fill his filthy paunch, so that it may stand a stout,
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  Speaker 1: the hormonger to en enjoy his foul villanies and beastly letcheries,
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  Speaker 1: the covetous man to be so scraping as that he
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  Speaker 1: careth not what he getteth, nor how he cometh by
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  Speaker 1: his goods, to lay land to land, and to be
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  Speaker 1: filled with another man's blood. Lo these are the men,
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  Speaker 1: as they think, which are blest yea. And although they
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  Speaker 1: were not so given to wickedness as openly to grieve
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  Speaker 1: the majesty of God. Yet for all that they shall
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  Speaker 1: have very few which will acknowledge themselves to be accursed,
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  Speaker 1: but that God hath care over them and their salvation,
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  Speaker 1: and that there is none other blessedness nor felicity, but
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  Speaker 1: even this, that they are in the hand of God
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  Speaker 1: and under His protection. And so much the rather ought
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  Speaker 1: we to record and have often in mind this lesson,
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  Speaker 1: when as David saith oh, look upon me, o Lord,
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  Speaker 1: and be merciful unto me, For by this he signifieth
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  Speaker 1: unto us that if we will have our life to
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  Speaker 1: be blessed if we will have good success in all
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  Speaker 1: our affairs. Lo from this fountain must we draw all
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  Speaker 1: our felicity, which is the providence of God, because we
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  Speaker 1: should in no wise doubt but that He careth for us,
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  Speaker 1: and bestoweth and employeth himself for our preservation. When it
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  Speaker 1: is thus with us, all the rest cannot but go
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  Speaker 1: well with us. But if this point be wanting, we
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  Speaker 1: are very miserable, although it seemeth to us to have
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  Speaker 1: even as much as can be wished. Now by the way,
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  Speaker 1: let us note that David, in beseeching God to be
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  Speaker 1: merciful unto him, declareth that so long as we are
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  Speaker 1: in this world, that we are subject to a number
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  Speaker 1: of calamities and afflictions, and so we have great need
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  Speaker 1: of the mercy of God, or else we shall carry
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  Speaker 1: away all the blows, as we say, amongst so many
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  Speaker 1: grievous encounters as shall be lamentable. Now this may serve
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  Speaker 1: us for two purposes. The one is that we, being
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  Speaker 1: here below upon the earth, might make our account that
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  Speaker 1: we cannot be here, as it were in paradise, to
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  Speaker 1: have such rest and quietness as we would chiefly desire
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  Speaker 1: to lack nothing, and not to be subject to any
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  Speaker 1: grief nor displeasure. No, not so. But contrariwise, let us
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  Speaker 1: know that here God subjecteth us to a great number
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  Speaker 1: of wretchednesses and miseries. To the end we should be
• 17:07
  Speaker 1: always calling upon Him for his mercy, and to be
• 17:10
  Speaker 1: always running unto Him for it. Lo here the first
• 17:13
  Speaker 1: point which we are to consider of in this place,
• 17:15
  Speaker 1: that the faithful, to the outward show shall be very
• 17:18
  Speaker 1: miserable and in a most wretched case, so long as
• 17:21
  Speaker 1: they shall live here below. And the meaning of God
• 17:24
  Speaker 1: is to hold us under this condition to the end,
• 17:26
  Speaker 1: to awaken us that we might have a far greater
• 17:29
  Speaker 1: affection to call upon Him and to cleave wholly unto Him. Now,
• 17:34
  Speaker 1: if we shall have this consideration with us, we may
• 17:36
  Speaker 1: then in the second place, say, with David, have mercy
• 17:39
  Speaker 1: upon us, O Lord, that is to say, we may
• 17:41
  Speaker 1: be assured in all our miseries that God will be
• 17:44
  Speaker 1: pitiful and merciful unto us. Yea, so that we desire
• 17:48
  Speaker 1: Him as we are taught here to do by the
• 17:50
  Speaker 1: spirit of God. Namely, David addeth as thou usest to
• 17:54
  Speaker 1: do unto those which love Thy name. This is a
• 17:58
  Speaker 1: sentence of judgment, which is here set down, But it
• 18:01
  Speaker 1: sometimes signifieth measure, sometimes a state, order or fashion. The
• 18:05
  Speaker 1: sense is not dark, for it is as much as
• 18:08
  Speaker 1: if he had said, O, Lord, have mercy upon me,
• 18:10
  Speaker 1: even as thou art wonted to have mercy upon those
• 18:13
  Speaker 1: which call upon thy name. Now we are to gather
• 18:16
  Speaker 1: from this saying that David made not this petition only
• 18:19
  Speaker 1: for himself, but hath set down unto us a general
• 18:22
  Speaker 1: rule which we may and ought to apply unto every
• 18:24
  Speaker 1: child of God, to the end that every one, for
• 18:27
  Speaker 1: his own part, might be sure that God will have
• 18:29
  Speaker 1: mercy upon him, and stretch forth his hand to aid
• 18:32
  Speaker 1: him in his need. And why so, for the Holy
• 18:35
  Speaker 1: Ghost namely pronounceth that it is the ordinary manner of
• 18:38
  Speaker 1: God to be loving and pitiful to all those which
• 18:41
  Speaker 1: love His name. What remaineth then for us to do?
• 18:45
  Speaker 1: Forsooth we must love the name of God. And here
• 18:48
  Speaker 1: we are also to consider what this saying meaneth to
• 18:51
  Speaker 1: love the name of God. For we shall have some
• 18:54
  Speaker 1: men which will fear God so so, and yet be
• 18:58
  Speaker 1: contented never to come near Him, if they could otherwise choose.
• 19:02
  Speaker 1: Yea they will not stick to shut the door against
• 19:04
  Speaker 1: him and keep themselves as far from Him as is possible. Now,
• 19:07
  Speaker 1: David showeth he unto us what the true fear of
• 19:10
  Speaker 1: God is, to it that we must love Him of
• 19:12
  Speaker 1: our own good will, and that with reverence, and not
• 19:15
  Speaker 1: constrainedly to love and fear him, but that we desire
• 19:18
  Speaker 1: to come unto Him and wholly to submit ourselves unto
• 19:20
  Speaker 1: His majesty. If we shall do thus, then may we
• 19:24
  Speaker 1: truly say that we love Him, and in loving him,
• 19:27
  Speaker 1: fear him. Also. In very deed, these are things that
• 19:31
  Speaker 1: may not be separated, because it is impossible for us
• 19:33
  Speaker 1: rightly to reverence God and to fear Him as we ought,
• 19:36
  Speaker 1: except as it is said in the sum, that we
• 19:39
  Speaker 1: first acknowledge Him to be our father, looking for all
• 19:42
  Speaker 1: goodness and courtesy from him. This then affordeth us in
• 19:45
  Speaker 1: the first place, that we are assured that God loveth us,
• 19:49
  Speaker 1: that we must take him as for our father, that
• 19:52
  Speaker 1: we feel that He and the loving of us, desireth
• 19:55
  Speaker 1: nothing else but our salvation. And thus much for the
• 19:58
  Speaker 1: first point and after from thence also precedeth humility. When
• 20:03
  Speaker 1: as we see God so to abase himself as to
• 20:06
  Speaker 1: seek for us miserable creatures, wretched worms of the earth,
• 20:09
  Speaker 1: yea even very condemned and utterly lost persons, the bond
• 20:12
  Speaker 1: slaves of Satan. That God seeketh for us even in hell,
• 20:16
  Speaker 1: and draweth us so lovingly unto himself. And must it
• 20:19
  Speaker 1: not needs be that we are very stubborn if we
• 20:21
  Speaker 1: be not touched and moved to come unto Him and
• 20:24
  Speaker 1: yield ourselves unto Him, and be ruled and governed by
• 20:26
  Speaker 1: His hand and protection. Lo, say I, how we ought
• 20:30
  Speaker 1: to love the name of God to the end we
• 20:33
  Speaker 1: might be glad of that felicity which David here speaketh of,
• 20:36
  Speaker 1: that is that God looketh to keep us through his providence.
• 20:39
  Speaker 1: And although we are here compassed with a great number
• 20:41
  Speaker 1: of miseries, afflicted a great number of ways, and judged
• 20:44
  Speaker 1: to be most wretched, yet God is at hand to
• 20:47
  Speaker 1: help our necessities. And namely, it is said to love
• 20:51
  Speaker 1: the name of God, because we must receive a testimony
• 20:54
  Speaker 1: from Him to comprehend his good will. We see not
• 20:57
  Speaker 1: God in his essence or as he is, indeed, but
• 21:01
  Speaker 1: he manifesteth himself unto us by another means to it
• 21:04
  Speaker 1: that we might behold him in the glass of his word,
• 21:07
  Speaker 1: where he showeth himself unto us openly enough. Now, David
• 21:11
  Speaker 1: addeth soon after order my steps in thy word, and
• 21:14
  Speaker 1: let no wickedness have dominion over me. Here we see
• 21:18
  Speaker 1: more clearly that which I have already touched to it
• 21:21
  Speaker 1: what the petitions of the faithful ought to be. To
• 21:23
  Speaker 1: the end, they should not be given to vain things,
• 21:26
  Speaker 1: For we need not to have anything to make us
• 21:28
  Speaker 1: by and by to go astray. Seeing our own nature
• 21:31
  Speaker 1: draweth us, and readily enough there too, there is no
• 21:34
  Speaker 1: question but that we will go more than a foot
• 21:37
  Speaker 1: pace when as we are bent to do mischief. Yea,
• 21:40
  Speaker 1: we will trot on most swiftly and violently, even as
• 21:43
  Speaker 1: wretched men that were bewitched. Wherefore here is a remedy
• 21:47
  Speaker 1: set down unto us, considering that our nature is inclined
• 21:50
  Speaker 1: to all evil, and carrieth us there too headlong. That
• 21:54
  Speaker 1: we only ought to endeavor ourselves to bridle our vain
• 21:56
  Speaker 1: and wicked affections. And besides, we ought to desire God
• 21:59
  Speaker 1: to keep us through his word, and not to suffer
• 22:02
  Speaker 1: any iniquity to reign in us. Lo I say in
• 22:05
  Speaker 1: what sort all the faithful must order themselves, fighting against
• 22:09
  Speaker 1: all their fleshly lusts. For it is meet that we
• 22:12
  Speaker 1: utterly renounce the evil that is in us, if we
• 22:14
  Speaker 1: will seek after God and come unto Him. Now here
• 22:18
  Speaker 1: are two things which David desireth to have his footsteps
• 22:21
  Speaker 1: ordered according to the word of God, and afterward that
• 22:24
  Speaker 1: no iniquity have dominion over him. Which is as much
• 22:28
  Speaker 1: as if he had said that God had conformed him
• 22:30
  Speaker 1: to his word and given him power and strength to
• 22:33
  Speaker 1: withstand all temptations. Now when he saith order my steps
• 22:37
  Speaker 1: according to Thy word, he meaneth that we can do
• 22:40
  Speaker 1: nothing at all except God governeth us by his Holy Spirit.
• 22:44
  Speaker 1: So then it is not enough that we have the
• 22:46
  Speaker 1: word of God preached unto us, to hear it and
• 22:49
  Speaker 1: to be exercised in the reading thereof. But it is
• 22:52
  Speaker 1: God that must put to his helping hand over and
• 22:54
  Speaker 1: besides he it is that must make the preaching of
• 22:57
  Speaker 1: it effectual and pierce our ears to the end we
• 23:01
  Speaker 1: might understand that which is set down unto us, and
• 23:04
  Speaker 1: open our eyes when we read, and that altogether by
• 23:07
  Speaker 1: His Holy Spirit. And thus much for this, for although
• 23:12
  Speaker 1: we have the word of God offered unto us, yet
• 23:14
  Speaker 1: shall we profit nothing thereby until such time as God
• 23:16
  Speaker 1: giveth us understanding to see it. And besides, it is
• 23:20
  Speaker 1: not enough to have the knowledge of the will of
• 23:22
  Speaker 1: God and to understand the right way to salvation. But
• 23:25
  Speaker 1: God also must lead us himself and hold us by
• 23:28
  Speaker 1: the hand, even unto the end. And why so, for
• 23:31
  Speaker 1: we will never cease drawing backward, when as God shall
• 23:35
  Speaker 1: have faithfully instructed us. If so be he himself doth
• 23:39
  Speaker 1: not still conduct us and always holdeth us with a
• 23:41
  Speaker 1: strong and mighty arm, because that our rebellious nature will
• 23:44
  Speaker 1: never cease to withdraw us clean. Contrary, for Saint Paul,
• 23:48
  Speaker 1: who had so greatly profited in the fear of God,
• 23:50
  Speaker 1: and was so very forward therein as the like was
• 23:53
  Speaker 1: not in his time yet ceased, he not still to say,
• 23:56
  Speaker 1: I feel two laws in myself. I have a desire
• 23:59
  Speaker 1: to serve God. But yet there is another thing also
• 24:02
  Speaker 1: which leadeth me to the contrary, so that I do
• 24:05
  Speaker 1: the evil which I abhor and would not do. And
• 24:08
  Speaker 1: if I do any good, it is not done with
• 24:10
  Speaker 1: so cheerful an affection as I would see herein what
• 24:13
  Speaker 1: sort Saint Paul complaineth himself and in the end concludeth
• 24:16
  Speaker 1: and saith alas, most wretched man that I am, who
• 24:19
  Speaker 1: shall deliver me out of this prison? If Saint Paul
• 24:23
  Speaker 1: used this kind of speech, what shall become of us
• 24:26
  Speaker 1: when we shall be no wit guided by the spirit
• 24:28
  Speaker 1: of God? I beseech you, what shall the bare doctrine
• 24:31
  Speaker 1: profit us? It is meet then that after God shall
• 24:34
  Speaker 1: have taught us that He also guide us, and after
• 24:37
  Speaker 1: that he give us the power and strength to follow
• 24:39
  Speaker 1: Him and to confirm, imprint and engrave His law in
• 24:42
  Speaker 1: our hearts. As also it is sufficiently set down in
• 24:45
  Speaker 1: the scripture touching the same. David goeth forward and saith
• 24:50
  Speaker 1: suffer not any iniquity to have dominion over me? To
• 24:54
  Speaker 1: what end and purpose saith he this? For he had
• 24:57
  Speaker 1: before desired God to order his steps, to the end
• 25:00
  Speaker 1: he might serve him in true and faithful obedience. For
• 25:03
  Speaker 1: sooth it is because that when God hath bestowed his
• 25:05
  Speaker 1: grace upon us, to be desirous to cleave unto him.
• 25:08
  Speaker 1: Yet shall we never come to the full end thereof
• 25:11
  Speaker 1: without great afflictions, Having so mighty an enemy to stand
• 25:14
  Speaker 1: against us as we have. It is very true that
• 25:17
  Speaker 1: we desire nothing else but to be made teachable of
• 25:20
  Speaker 1: God and to suffer ourselves to be governed by the
• 25:22
  Speaker 1: great pastor or shepherd, Jesus Christ. This is already one
• 25:26
  Speaker 1: good step. But let us a little better consider wherefore
• 25:29
  Speaker 1: such grace profiteth us Not? It is because the devil
• 25:32
  Speaker 1: cometh soon after to set it on fire, For he
• 25:35
  Speaker 1: always findeth good store of wood in us, according as
• 25:38
  Speaker 1: we are stored with many vices and imperfections in our nature,
• 25:41
  Speaker 1: until such time as God shall have wholly taken us
• 25:44
  Speaker 1: from out of this flesh. For all our lusts and
• 25:47
  Speaker 1: affections are so many rebellions against God, as that we
• 25:51
  Speaker 1: never cease to fight against Him. That if at any time,
• 25:54
  Speaker 1: on the one side we go about to do good,
• 25:56
  Speaker 1: we are on the other side carried to do evil.
• 25:59
  Speaker 1: What must we then do? We had need to have
• 26:02
  Speaker 1: God to array us with a power and constancy to
• 26:05
  Speaker 1: resist all these contrarities and wicked lusts which are in us,
• 26:09
  Speaker 1: that we be not only teachable and governed by Him,
• 26:11
  Speaker 1: but also that we be fenced with such armor and
• 26:14
  Speaker 1: weapon as our meet to fight against Satan and all
• 26:17
  Speaker 1: his crafty slights and strengths, to the end our enemy
• 26:20
  Speaker 1: might have no hold of us, so that we, having
• 26:23
  Speaker 1: as Saint Paul Saith, both our head piece and shield
• 26:26
  Speaker 1: might be armed and appointed at all pieces. And when
• 26:30
  Speaker 1: as we shall be thus armed, then to see how
• 26:32
  Speaker 1: we should wholly and fully cleave unto our God. And
• 26:35
  Speaker 1: whatsoever the devil shall craftily invent against us, whatsoever stops
• 26:39
  Speaker 1: and lets are in us. Yet let us not doubt,
• 26:42
  Speaker 1: but to obtain victory. So then it is not without
• 26:47
  Speaker 1: cause that David here joineth these two things together, to
• 26:49
  Speaker 1: be guided by the majesty of God, and above all
• 26:52
  Speaker 1: to be so mightily strengthened, as that no iniquity could
• 26:55
  Speaker 1: have dominion over him, but that he was well able
• 26:59
  Speaker 1: to overcome all the dame temptations, wherewith Satan any way
• 27:01
  Speaker 1: could assail him. Now if David was fain to make
• 27:04
  Speaker 1: such a petition unto God without hypocrisy, By this we
• 27:07
  Speaker 1: may gather of what strength and effect our free will is,
• 27:10
  Speaker 1: which the papists so highly extol. When as we shall
• 27:14
  Speaker 1: speak of the serving of God, they straightways think that
• 27:17
  Speaker 1: it cometh of our own power and strength. Not that
• 27:20
  Speaker 1: they do not confess, but that they had in some
• 27:23
  Speaker 1: sort need of God his help. But yet that they
• 27:26
  Speaker 1: will be companions and fellow workers with God, and that
• 27:29
  Speaker 1: without they, for their part, did something of their own
• 27:32
  Speaker 1: power and strength. All of it were nothing and contrariwise,
• 27:36
  Speaker 1: except the spirit of God leadeth and guideth us, we
• 27:39
  Speaker 1: must needs slip yea and utterly fall away. We speak
• 27:43
  Speaker 1: not here of an half aid only. But it is
• 27:46
  Speaker 1: God that must take the whole conduct and leading into
• 27:49
  Speaker 1: his own charge. And again hath He taken us into
• 27:54
  Speaker 1: his hand, then no doubt of it. There is a
• 27:56
  Speaker 1: second grace to be looked for. That is to say
• 27:58
  Speaker 1: that we be strengthened with His heard Holy Spirit, and
• 28:01
  Speaker 1: so to be governed, as that we may have an
• 28:03
  Speaker 1: invincible power to persevere in well doing. Howbeit, there is
• 28:07
  Speaker 1: yet one more point to be considered of in this verse,
• 28:10
  Speaker 1: and that is that David desirous to have all his
• 28:12
  Speaker 1: steps ordered according to the word of God. Now by
• 28:17
  Speaker 1: this he showeth that if we be governed according to
• 28:19
  Speaker 1: our own minds and phantasies, we will be very swift
• 28:22
  Speaker 1: to run, but yet not to seek our salvation. And
• 28:27
  Speaker 1: why so, because we run thwart the fields without holding
• 28:31
  Speaker 1: any way and path. Lo here the manner of the papists,
• 28:34
  Speaker 1: are they able rightly to say that their steps are
• 28:37
  Speaker 1: ordered by the word of God. But contrariwise, the abomination
• 28:41
  Speaker 1: of their Antichrist withdraweth them from the right way, to
• 28:45
  Speaker 1: make them wander and stray here and there, and in
• 28:47
  Speaker 1: the end to cast themselves headlong into the bottom of
• 28:50
  Speaker 1: hill in such sort as whatsoever they call the service
• 28:53
  Speaker 1: of God. When as both the ends shall be brought together,
• 28:57
  Speaker 1: we shall find to be so many blasphemies against God.
• 29:00
  Speaker 1: And if they be asked now, sir, I beseech you
• 29:02
  Speaker 1: from whom have you your mass, your invocation of saints,
• 29:05
  Speaker 1: prayer for the dead, images, your deifying of saints, your
• 29:08
  Speaker 1: erecting of altars unto them, your tortures, candle lights, pilgrimages,
• 29:12
  Speaker 1: and all the rest of your beggarly trash. What answer
• 29:15
  Speaker 1: will they make? They are never able to answer you
• 29:18
  Speaker 1: one iota for the maintenance of this their cloutery out
• 29:21
  Speaker 1: of the Holy Scripture. What will they then say, forsooth
• 29:25
  Speaker 1: we follow our fathers and their traditions. Yea, But it
• 29:29
  Speaker 1: is here namely set down that we must be ordered
• 29:31
  Speaker 1: by the word of God. For all our whole life
• 29:34
  Speaker 1: is very great disorder, and we wander and stray like
• 29:37
  Speaker 1: unto brute beasts except the word of God be our
• 29:39
  Speaker 1: only rule and plain square. Wherefore, let us be well
• 29:43
  Speaker 1: advised not to stray as these miserable, accursed people, which
• 29:47
  Speaker 1: close up their eyes in the clear daylight yea, and
• 29:50
  Speaker 1: which wet themselves and stubbornly stand in opinion against God
• 29:53
  Speaker 1: when he goeth about to reform them, and to show
• 29:55
  Speaker 1: them that they have hitherto vainly spend and lost all
• 29:59
  Speaker 1: their time and travel. And although that they be altogether
• 30:03
  Speaker 1: so hardened, yet let not us be so. But let
• 30:07
  Speaker 1: us know that there is none other direction that is good,
• 30:10
  Speaker 1: but the very same which God showeth unto us, as
• 30:13
  Speaker 1: was said to Moses. Lo, this is the way which
• 30:16
  Speaker 1: thou must follow. Now it followeth after O deliver me
• 30:20
  Speaker 1: from the wrongful dealings of men, and I will keep
• 30:23
  Speaker 1: thy commandments. David, by this manner of speaking right well,
• 30:27
  Speaker 1: declareth that the children of God shall always be assailed
• 30:30
  Speaker 1: with many and sundry assaults, persecutions, and griefs, so long
• 30:34
  Speaker 1: as they live here in this world. And the meaning
• 30:36
  Speaker 1: of God is to appoint him to be, as it were,
• 30:38
  Speaker 1: a glass for all the faithful to look in, for
• 30:42
  Speaker 1: as we see how he hath been entreated and do
• 30:44
  Speaker 1: also see his condition and state. No doubt God hath
• 30:48
  Speaker 1: set him, as it were, upon a scaffold, to the
• 30:50
  Speaker 1: end we might be conformed according to his example, as
• 30:54
  Speaker 1: he was also, in very deed a figure of our
• 30:56
  Speaker 1: Lord Jesus Christ. Now we know that our Lord Jesus
• 30:59
  Speaker 1: was a true patron of all the children of God,
• 31:01
  Speaker 1: according unto whose image we must be made like, namely
• 31:04
  Speaker 1: in this point to wit in afflictions, in anguishes and miseries,
• 31:08
  Speaker 1: as Saint Paul thereof witnesses to the Romans. Since then
• 31:12
  Speaker 1: it is so, let us know that so long as
• 31:15
  Speaker 1: we are to live in this world, we shall be
• 31:17
  Speaker 1: always afflicted and troubled by wicked and ungodly men. Neither
• 31:20
  Speaker 1: ought we to think it any strange thing, since David
• 31:23
  Speaker 1: hath showed us away, and that God hath purposed to
• 31:26
  Speaker 1: have us framed after his example. Let not the afflictions
• 31:30
  Speaker 1: and persecutions which we must abide at this day seem
• 31:33
  Speaker 1: new and strange unto us. Now hereupon it followeth that
• 31:37
  Speaker 1: he will keep his commandments, whereby he signifieth that he
• 31:41
  Speaker 1: will not forget himself of such a benefit, whenas he
• 31:44
  Speaker 1: shall have God to be his protector to succor him
• 31:46
  Speaker 1: against the malice of men, that he will keep his commandments.
• 31:51
  Speaker 1: Let us learn then, that when God shall have maintained
• 31:53
  Speaker 1: and defended us, that we ought to be a great
• 31:56
  Speaker 1: deal the more ready to obey and fear Him, And
• 31:58
  Speaker 1: that this ought always to stir us up to a
• 32:01
  Speaker 1: greater consideration. That as He daily increaseth more and more
• 32:05
  Speaker 1: his benefits upon us, so ought our affection also to
• 32:08
  Speaker 1: serve him increase. And besides it must more profit and
• 32:11
  Speaker 1: inflame itself. Now it followeth by and by after show
• 32:16
  Speaker 1: the light of Thy countenance upon thy servant, and teach
• 32:18
  Speaker 1: me thy statutes. By this he confirmeth the matter which
• 32:22
  Speaker 1: he before handled. And therefore we shall not need to
• 32:24
  Speaker 1: stand much upon this verse, for he showeth that he
• 32:27
  Speaker 1: is contented to have God to look and care for him.
• 32:30
  Speaker 1: And to prove this to be true. You may see
• 32:32
  Speaker 1: that the thing which he desireth is that which I
• 32:35
  Speaker 1: have already touched. That is, the principal safety which the
• 32:38
  Speaker 1: children of God ought to have, is to stay themselves
• 32:41
  Speaker 1: upon this providence of God, when as they certainly know
• 32:43
  Speaker 1: and may boldly say, that God standeth for us and
• 32:46
  Speaker 1: will never forget us. And although we be never so
• 32:49
  Speaker 1: miserable creatures. Yet for all that He careth for us,
• 32:52
  Speaker 1: watcheth over us, yea. And also he hath an eye
• 32:55
  Speaker 1: unto us. Neither will he suffer any hurt to come
• 32:58
  Speaker 1: unto us, but will provide for all our needs and wants.
• 33:02
  Speaker 1: And if we carry this mind with us, we have
• 33:04
  Speaker 1: the greatest benefit that is possible to be wished. And
• 33:07
  Speaker 1: this is it which David speaketh of in this place
• 33:10
  Speaker 1: when he says, show the light of thy countenance, O Lord,
• 33:12
  Speaker 1: upon thy servant. For he meaneth that when he shall
• 33:16
  Speaker 1: feel the protection of God, he is then sure that
• 33:18
  Speaker 1: God looketh unto him, and that the same is it
• 33:21
  Speaker 1: which shall deliver him from all cares. Now let us
• 33:25
  Speaker 1: note that this manner of speech is drawn from a similitude,
• 33:28
  Speaker 1: as when we think God his countenance to be darkened
• 33:31
  Speaker 1: in the time of our trouble and adversity, and feeling
• 33:33
  Speaker 1: no comfort whereby to glad ourselves in Him. It seemeth
• 33:36
  Speaker 1: to us by and by that there are great and monstrous,
• 33:39
  Speaker 1: thick clouds betwixt Him and us. And indifferently we imagine
• 33:43
  Speaker 1: that God seeth us not. And therefore David so far
• 33:47
  Speaker 1: as flesh and blood could reach unto saith, show the
• 33:50
  Speaker 1: light of thy countenance. That is, make me to feel
• 33:53
  Speaker 1: that thou hast care over me. And in the end
• 33:56
  Speaker 1: he sayth mine eyes gush out with rivers of water,
• 33:59
  Speaker 1: because men can keep not by law. Here he declareth
• 34:03
  Speaker 1: that over and besides the desire which we ought to have,
• 34:06
  Speaker 1: and wherewith we ought to be affected to cleave unto
• 34:09
  Speaker 1: God according to his word, What a great mischief and
• 34:11
  Speaker 1: grief it should be unto us to see the scorners,
• 34:14
  Speaker 1: which so contemn and despise the word of God, to
• 34:17
  Speaker 1: tread the same underfoot, and besides to see the wicked
• 34:20
  Speaker 1: to overthrow all good order and justice. See then, that
• 34:23
  Speaker 1: the true children of God ought not only to be
• 34:26
  Speaker 1: contented with their own walking aright, and to be framed
• 34:28
  Speaker 1: according to the law of God. But they ought also,
• 34:31
  Speaker 1: by all means possible, to labor to bring the whole
• 34:33
  Speaker 1: world to that pass with them, to the end, that
• 34:36
  Speaker 1: all the creatures of God might with one accord reverence
• 34:39
  Speaker 1: and glorify His majesty. And therefore, when as they see
• 34:43
  Speaker 1: God to be contented, they should be grieved thereat, and
• 34:46
  Speaker 1: not only to be sorry and vexed, but also to be,
• 34:49
  Speaker 1: as it were, mortally wounded. For it is not without
• 34:52
  Speaker 1: cause that David saith here that rivers of water gushed
• 34:55
  Speaker 1: out of his eyes. He meaneth thereby that he was
• 34:59
  Speaker 1: so sorrowful and vas as could not be expressed. Now,
• 35:02
  Speaker 1: if David had occasion to groan and weep after this sort,
• 35:06
  Speaker 1: when he see God to be rejected, what shall the
• 35:08
  Speaker 1: come of this our time? I pray you to what
• 35:10
  Speaker 1: an extremity are we come? Is not impiety or ungodliness
• 35:14
  Speaker 1: grown at this day to a full measure? Do we
• 35:17
  Speaker 1: not see the ungodly exceed in all abundance of wickedness?
• 35:21
  Speaker 1: One sort is fallen out with God and the Gospel.
• 35:23
  Speaker 1: Another sort will confess with the mouth that they allow
• 35:26
  Speaker 1: of it or desire it. And yet we see them
• 35:28
  Speaker 1: to be an hundred thousandth times worse than the papists.
• 35:32
  Speaker 1: No doubt of it, we shall find amongst us of
• 35:34
  Speaker 1: that sort such devils incarnate, and so villainous and detestable
• 35:38
  Speaker 1: as that the very air crieth out unto God for
• 35:40
  Speaker 1: vengeance against them. When then we shall see these accursed
• 35:44
  Speaker 1: monsters to make no account of God nor Godliness? Must
• 35:47
  Speaker 1: we not needs be grieved as David was. Let us
• 35:51
  Speaker 1: know that God will bless our crying and groaning when
• 35:54
  Speaker 1: we shall have this godly sorrow, as to see His
• 35:57
  Speaker 1: law thus destroyed and overthrown, and not to be regarded
• 36:00
  Speaker 1: with that reverence that it deserveth. And Yet, notwithstanding, the
• 36:03
  Speaker 1: contemners of God must one day come to an account,
• 36:06
  Speaker 1: when as they shall be merry after another sort, and
• 36:09
  Speaker 1: then they shall be assured to make a reckoning for
• 36:11
  Speaker 1: the groans and lamentations of the children of God, when
• 36:14
  Speaker 1: they do not only vex the mortal creatures of God,
• 36:17
  Speaker 1: but even the Living God himself and his Holy Spirit,
• 36:19
  Speaker 1: which dwelleth in us, from whom all such sighs and
• 36:23
  Speaker 1: groans do proceed. And so when as we lament to
• 36:26
  Speaker 1: see the Law of God to be so destroyed by
• 36:28
  Speaker 1: the wicked, let us put them over to the judgment
• 36:31
  Speaker 1: of God, before whom they shall make an account of
• 36:33
  Speaker 1: all the groans and sighs which we shall have poured out,
• 36:36
  Speaker 1: which they thought, by their gibings and laughings, to strangle
• 36:40
  Speaker 1: and choke. For although they tread underfoot the law of God,
• 36:43
  Speaker 1: so much as in them lieth, yet the sorrow and
• 36:46
  Speaker 1: grief which we abide, for it shall ascend into the
• 36:48
  Speaker 1: heavens to cry for vengeance of them. According to this
• 36:53
  Speaker 1: wholesome doctrine, let us prostrate ourselves before the Majesty of
• 36:56
  Speaker 1: our good God, in acknowledging our offenses, beseeching him that
• 36:59
  Speaker 1: it would please him to make us better to feel
• 37:01
  Speaker 1: our miseries than we have heretoforefeled them. Yea, to the end,
• 37:05
  Speaker 1: we may lay them open unto Him, and to seek
• 37:08
  Speaker 1: for remedy where it is to be found. That is
• 37:11
  Speaker 1: that after this our Good God hath enlightened us in
• 37:13
  Speaker 1: his knowledge that it would please him more and more
• 37:16
  Speaker 1: to increase the brightness thereof in us, and so to
• 37:19
  Speaker 1: confirm us as that we never change from the right way,
• 37:23
  Speaker 1: and although we are to withstand a great number of assaults,
• 37:26
  Speaker 1: and that the devil never ceaseth craftily to go about
• 37:29
  Speaker 1: infinite ways to trouble us. Yet notwithstanding, let us beseech
• 37:32
  Speaker 1: him to give us an invincible power to resist them
• 37:35
  Speaker 1: until such time as we become fully conquerors and be
• 37:38
  Speaker 1: conjoined unto himself to live in His kingdom in everlasting
• 37:42
  Speaker 1: joy and felicity. End of Sermon seventeen