The commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the Acts of the Apostles, faithfully translated…The commentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the Actes of the Apostles, faithfully translated…

Nevertheless if there arise any doubt, if any seducer put up his head, if any new folly begin to appear, they do not only waver being in doubt, but also of their own accord offer themselves to be carried hither and thither. Whereby it appeareth that neither in judgement, neither in quiet state of mind, they stay and rest in the common custom of worshipping God: but that they droop like drunken men. But carefulness & doubtfulness which doeth not suffer the unbelievers to flatter and please themselves, is better than such amazedness. Finally though superstition be not always fearful: yet forasmuch as it is inwrapped in divers errors, it disquieteth mens minds, & doth prick them with divers blind torments. This was the cause that the men of Athens did mix their domesticall Gods (whom they thought they knew because in their vain opinion they had invented them) with unknown gods. For thereby appeareth their unquietness, because they confess that they have not as yet done as they ought, when they have done sacrifice to the familiar Gods, which they had received of their fathers, & whom they called their country gods. Therefore to the end Paul may pluck out of their minds all vain & false persuasions, he taketh this maxim, that they know not what they worship, neither have they any certain divine power. For if they had known any god at all, being con tent with him, they would never have fallen away unto unknown gods, forasmuch as the knowledge of the true God alone is sufficient for the abolishing of all idols.

Neuerthelesse if ther arise any doubt, if any seducer put vp his head, if any newe folly begin to appeare, they do not only wauer being in dout, but also of their own accord offer themselues to be carried hither and thither. Whereby it appeareth that neither in iudgement, neither in quiet state of minde, they stay and rest in the common custome of worshipping God: but that they droup like drunken men. But carefulnes & doutfulnes which doeth not suffer the vnbeleeuers to flatter and please themselues, is better thē such amasednes. Finally thogh superstition bee not alwaies feareful: yet forasmuch as it is inwrapt in diuers errors, it disquieteth mens minds, & doth prick them with diuers blind torments. This was the cause that the men of Athens did mixe their domesticall Gods (whom they thought they knew because in their vaine opinion they had inuented them) with vnknown gods. For thereby appeareth their vnquietnesse, because they confesse that they haue not as yet done as they ought, when they haue done sacrifice to the familiar Gods, which they had receiued of their fathers, & whō they called their country gods. Therfore to the end Paul may pluck out of their minds all vain & false perswasiōs, hee taketh this maxime, that they know not what they worshippe, neither haue they any certain diuine power. For if they had known any god at al, being cō tent with him, they wold neuer haue faln away vnto vnknown gods, forasmuch as the knowledge of the true God alone is sufficient for the abolishing of all idols.