A16078:2497
A harmony upon the the three Evangelists, Matthew, Mark and Luke with the commentary…A harmonie vpon the the three Euangelists, Matthew, Mark and Luke with the commentarie…
A harmony upon the the three Evangelists, Matthew, Mark and Luke with the commentary of M. John Calvin: faithfully translated out of Latin into English, by E.P. Whereunto is also added a commentary upon the Evangelist S. John, by the same author.A harmonie vpon the the three Euangelists, Matthew, Mark and Luke with the commentarie of M. Iohn Caluine: faithfully translated out of Latine into English, by E.P. Whereunto is also added a commentarie vpon the Euangelist S. Iohn, by the same authour.
Londini: printed by Thomas Dawson, 1584
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
24 God is a spirit. This is a confirmation drawn from the very nature of God. Seeing that men are flesh, it is no marvel if those things please them which are answerable to their nature. Hereupon it cometh to pass that they invent many things in the worship of God, which being full of vain boasting, have in them no soundness. But it is meet for them first of all to weigh this throughly, that they have to do with God, who doth no more agree with the flesh, then fire with water. This one cogitation only ought to suffice to bridle the wantonness of our wit, when as we are occupied about the worshipping of God: that he is so unlike unto us, that those things which please us, do most of all displease him. But admit hypocrites be so blinded with their pride that they are not afraid to make God subject to their will or rather lust: yet let us know that this modesty hath not the lowest room in the worship of God, howsoever we think it pleaseth according to the flesh.
24 God is a spirite. This is a confirmation drawen from the verie nature of God. Seeing that men are flesh, it is no maruell if those thinges please them which are aunswerable to their nature. Hereupon it commeth to passe that they inuent manie things in the worship of God, whiche being full of vaine boasting, haue in them no soundnesse. But it is meete for them first of all to weigh this throughly, that they haue to do with God, who doth no more agree with the flesh, then fire with water. This one cogitation only ought to suffice to bridle the wantonnesse of our wit, when as we are occupied about the worshipping of God: that hee is so vnlike vnto vs, that those thinges which please vs, doe most of all displease him. But admit hypocrites be so blinded with their pride that they are not afraide to make God subiect to their will or rather luste: yet let vs know that this modestie hath not the lowest roome in the worship of God, howsoeuer we thinke it pleaseth according to the flesh.
Furthermore, because we cannot ascend unto his highness, let us remember that we must fetch a rule out of his word, whereby we may be directed. The fathers do oftentimes cite this place against the Arians, to prove the divinity of the spirit: but it is falsely wrested thither, because Christ doth in this place simply affirm that his father is of a spiritual nature, and that therefore he is not moved with frivolous things, as men are wont by reason of their lightness.