The Psalms, it follows, that in proportion to the proficiency which a man shall have attained in
understanding them, nill be his knowledge of the most important part of
celestial doctrine. Genuine and earnest prayer proceeds first from a sense
of our need, and next, from faith in the promises of God. It is by perusing
these inspired compositions, that men will be most effectually awakened
to a sense of their maladies, and, at the same time, instructed in seeking
remedies for their cure. In a word, whatever may serve to encourage us
when we are about to pray to God, is taught us in this book. And not only
are the promises of God presented to us in it, but oftentimes there is
exhibited to us one standing, as it were, amidst the invitations of God on
the one hand, and the impediments of the flesh on the other, girding and
preparing himself for prayer:thus teaching us, if at any time we are
agitated with a variety of doubts, to resist and fight against them, until the
soul, freed and disentangled from all these impediments, rise up to God;
and not only so, but even when in the midst of doubts, fears, and
apprehensions, let us put forth our efforts in prayer, until we experience
some consolation which may calm and bring contentment to our minds. fa11
Although distrust may shut the gate against our prayers, yet we must not
allow ourselves to give way, whenever our hearts waver or are agitated
with inquietude, but must persevere until faith finally come forth
victorious from these conflicts. In many places we may perceive the
exercise of the servants of God in prayer so fluctuating, that they are
almost overwhelmed by the alternate hope of success and apprehension of
failure, and gain the prize only by strenuous exertions. We see on the one
hand, the flesh manifesting its infirmity; and on the other, faith putting
forth its power; and if it is not so valiant and courageous as might be
desired, it is at least prepared to fight until by degrees it acquire perfect
strength. But as those things which serve to teach us the true method of
praying aright will be found scattered through the whole of this
Commentary, I will not now stop to treat of topics which it will be
necessary afterwards to repeat, nor detain my readers from proceeding to
the work itself. Only it appeared to me to be requisite to show in passing,
that this book makes known to us this privilege, which is desirable above
all others — that not only is there opened up to us familiar access to God,
but also that we have permission and freedom granted us to lay open
before him our infirmities which we would be ashamed to confess before
men. Besides there is also here prescribed to us an infallible rule for
directing us with respect to the right manner of offering to God the
sacrifice of praise, which he declares to be most precious in his sight, and
of the sweetest odour. There is no other book in which there is to be found
more express and magnificent commendations, both of the unparalleled
liberality of God towards his Church, and of all his works; there is no
other book in which there is recorded so many deliverances nor one in
which the evidences and experiences of the fatherly providence and
solicitude which God exercises towards us are celebrated with such
splendor of diction, and yet with the strictest adherence to truth, in short,
there is no other book in which we are more perfectly taught the right
manner of praising God, or in which we are more powerfully stirred up to
the performance of this religious exercise. Moreover although The Psalms
are replete with all the precepts which serve to frame our life to every part
of holiness, piety, and righteousness, yet they will principally teach and
train us to bear the cross; and the bearing of the cross is a genuine proof of
our obedience, since by doing this, we renounce the guidance of our own
affections and submit ourselves entirely to God, leaving him to govern us,
and to dispose of our life according to his will, so that the afflictions which
are the bitterest and most severe to our nature, become sweet to us,
because they proceed from him. In one word, not only will we here find
general commendations of the goodness of God, which may teach men to
repose themselves in him alone, and to seek all their happiness solely in
him; and which are intended to teach true believers with their whole hearts
confidently to look to him for help in all their necessities; but we will also
find that the free remission of sins, which alone reconciles God towards us
and procures for us settled peace with him, fa12 is so set forth and
magnified, as that here there is nothing wanting which relates to the
knowledge of eternal salvation. [From Calvin's preface to his commentary on the Psalms]
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