Second, each verse of the psalm refers to the Word of God, the Bible, with only a small handful of exceptions. The rabbis said that there are ten synonyms for Scripture in this psalm, one for each of the Ten.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL
And the rather have I been emboldened this to do: both for that I have been credibly informed of, either of your great pains taking in reading over such like godly works as also that myself am Testis oculatus, of your daily presence and diligent attention at all Sermons and godly exercises used in this country of Suff. Whose good and godly beginnings with the rest of the right worshipful both men and women in these parts (and all others of what state and condition soever they be) I heartily beseech our good God and merciful father, even for his Christ, his truth, and mercies sake, to increase, strengthen, and continue with daily practice of the same, in some measure in your lives and conversation, with full perseverance unto the end of your days here, without which all the rest is but labor lost.
TO ALL FAITHFUL READERS
THE FIRST SERMON OF
JOHN CALVIN
For this word, Judgments, importeth that we are taught and instructed of that which we have to do. Let us step forth with David and protest, that we will keep the commandments of God: to wit, when.
THE SECOND SERMON
HUNDREDTH AND NINETEENTH PSALM
But let us follow that which is here set down, to wit, that we may be God’s scholars even from our youth. But so it is that we go up in the Pulpit daily, with this condition to learn, when as we teach others.
THE THIRD SERMON
And yet for all that we see that he declareth (yea and that boldly) himself to be. But let us also follow his example in that he saith, that is, that we should not be discouraged: seeing ourselves to be so evil and unjustly recompensed at men’s hands, that we forbear not for all that to exercise ourselves in the commandments of God.
THE FOURTH SERMON
That we ought to be much more heedful than we are of all the benefits of God, to the end we might come to this consideration of the reason which David here bringeth in: to wit, that we might say unto God, that he hath heard us. Moreover, we are to note, that we must not deal with God, as with mortal men.
THE FIFTH SERMON
And that which is more, he declareth that he had already desired to follow God, and to obey his Commandments. It is also meet that he continue the same in us, and make us desirous to walk in his commandments. It is not like to be true that David was naturally covetous, neither yet do we find that he was so.
And so, whatsoever goodness is in us, it is a testimony of the good will which God beareth us, and that he will be our father and Savior. And he maketh also this request, that he might be conducted in the way of the Lord.
THE SIXTH SERMON
Because our Faith all that while shall not be exercised and troubled, so that we shall never be able to feel whether we have believed in good earnest, until such time as we are tried. And lo what is the cause why we feel not the power of the promises of God as we ought: the reason is, for that we have no hope nor trust in them. Wherein he showeth, that we ought to have such a remembrance of the benefits of God, that it never slip from us.
And is this the assurance and joy that we must have in the law of God. We must then instead of a number of foolish vanities whereunto we are inclined, yea, and in place of the wicked affections and allurements of Satan, learn to take pleasure in the word of God, so that we may protest in truth (after the example of David) that they are the commandments of God which we have loved.
THE SEVENTH SERMON
Whensoever then we shall be oppressed with any adversity, lo what the remedy is that we must take: to look unto the promises of God, and to think of that which he hath testified unto us of his own good will. And since it is so, that he is faithful, let us be sure that we shall not go away empty, if we believe his word: but that he will perform whatsoever he hath promised. Lo then, how we ought to be fully assured, that it is to us which God speaketh, and that he also offereth his mercy to us in common.
Here David declareth that he is confirmed (over and beside the word) in all the judgments of God, which is the thing that we must also do, after that we have meditated upon the promises of GOD, by which he testifieth that. Wherefore, let us learn to be thus horribly afraid, so often as we see men exceed in.
THE EIGHTH SERMON
And especially, this is one of the points that the Papists strive most about, that we must not assure ourselves (when we pray unto God) that he heareth us: but remain in suspense. And this is it that he saith on the contrary part, that he would turn his feet to the testimonies of God. And in so saying, it is as if he should have protested and said, that he had always one self and the same affection to follow the law of God.
By which he signifieth, that he hath sought all the means possible to give himself to walk in the fear of God. And since that God hath given us this grace to allow us in the number of his children, and to show himself to be our father, let us be sure that he will not refuse to give us those things which he hath promised.
THE NINTH SERMON
Now here we are to note (as we have touched this morning) that we believe the word of God two ways: to wit, our faith must be. So it is (as already I have said) that we ought indeed, to be tamed through afflictions: or else we should always become like unto savage and wild beasts. To be short, it will be out of all doubt, that we will even jusile and spurn against God, when as we shall live at our own pleasure, and in great prosperity.
Now we must have a farther regard, if we will serve God as to him appertaineth [pertains]: to wit, that we take such pleasure and delight in the word of God, that we be no more given to the world, as we are overmuch. Let us then know that we had need to be corrected by the hand of God, and to be tied short, if we will profit in the doctrine of salvation.
THE TENTH SERMON
Now, when as we have this advantage and privilege, our confidence ought to be so much the more certain, that we should not doubt but that he would augment those graces which he before had bestowed upon us. Now if David made this request, yea and that in truth knowing that he had great need to be instructed of God: I pray you what arrogancy shall this be in us, when as we shall presume to have our brain so full stuffed, as that we needed no more instruction. This is said for a better confirmation of that which I have already spoken: to wit, that if God hath gently dealt with any of our neighbors, that he hath had compassion upon him: we are to conclude, that we shall.
For (as we have before said) see the first which we ought to have in a singular recommendation, and that is, that we may be taught by God, and not to be taught only by words, but that he will also lighten us with his holy spirit, to make us know, that it is his word which guideth us. By this we are admonished what it is that we must crave at the hands of God in good earnest, forsooth [in truth] that his mercies may remain with us: to wit, when as we are conformable to him and to his word.
THE ELEVENTH SERMON
In the second verse he saith, That he hath failed for the promise of God, yea even looking for this promise, and that he hath said, When wilt thou comfort me. For we shall never bear him that affection to obey him, without we comfort ourselves that he loveth us, and that we trust to his bounty. To be short, let us understand, that David made this prayer at such time as he thought not to have lived any longer, but that he was as a dead man, when he saith, O quicken me.
In the end David protesteth, that he will keep the testimonies of the mouth of God. Now let us not understand hereby, that he had not kept them before: For we have seen the clean contrary.
THE TWELFTH SERMON
For we may use this name of the word of God, and yet it may be hidden in the air, or amongst the Clouds: But because he hath given unto us his word. Moreover, let us learn rightly to understand, how sure we ought to be of the word of GOD, not to seek for the certainty thereof without ourselves, but rather in our own Consciences. As namely he saith, that he should have perished in his trouble, if he had not delighted in the word of God.
So then, let us well consider (as we have already said) that since we have known the power of the word of God, to be such as it is here showed us, we may in such sort resist all the greatest. So it is that the word of God ought to suffice us, as he saith, I will consider thy testimonies.
THE THIRTEENTH SERMON
Now it is very sure, that when the word of God shall remain and continue with us, that we shall have wisdom enough to defend and keep us from all such enemies. The first duty then that we owe unto the word of God, is this reverence and fear. For we might in some sort very well fear the word of God: and yet for all that we should not be touched therewith as was meet.
Wherein he signifieth unto us, that we shall never hate that which is evil, until such time as we know, what goodness is. And so let us learn, that we shall never be brought to that which David here speaketh of, until such time as we are instructed and.
THE FOURTEENTH SERMON
