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…

27 That they might seek God. This sentence hath two members: to wit, that it is mans duty to seek God: Secondly, that God himself cometh forth to meet us, and doth show himself by such manifest tokens, that we can have no excuse for our ignorance. Therefore let us remember that those men do wickedly abuse this life, & that they be unworthy to dwell upon earth, which do not apply their studies to seek him. As if every kind of brute beasts should fall from that inclination which they have naturally, which should for good causes be called monstrous. And surely nothing is more absurd, then that men should be ignorant of their Author, who are endued with understanding principally for this use. And we must especially note the goodness of God, in that he doth so familiarly insinuate himself, that even the blind may grope, after him. For which cause the blindness of men is more shameful and untollerable, who in so manifest and evident a manifestation, are touched with no feeling of Gods presence. Whithersoever they cast their eyes upward or downward, they must needs light upon lively and also infinite images of Gods power, wisdom, and goodness. For God hath not darkly shadowed his glory in the creation of the world: but he hath every where engraven such manifest marks, that even blind men may know them by groping. Whence we gather that men are not only blind, but blockish when being holpen by such excellent testimonies they profit nothing. Yet here ariseth a question, whether men can naturally come unto the true and merciful knowledge of GOD. For Paul doth give us to understand, that their own sluggishness is the cause that they cannot perceive that God is present: because though ⟨p. 431⟩the shut their eyes, yet may they grope after him. I answer that their ignorance and blockishness is mixed with such frowardness, that being void of right judgement, they pass over without understanding all such signs of Gods glory as appear manifestly both in heaven and earth. Yea seeing that the true knowledge of god is a singular gift of his: & faith (by which alone he is rightly known) cometh only from the illumination of the Spirit: it followeth that our minds cannot pierce so far having nature only for our guide. Neither doeth Paul entreat in this place of the ability of men:

27 That they might seeke God. This sentence hath two members: to wit, that it is mans duetie to seeke God: Secondly, that God himself cō meth foorth to meet vs, and doth shew himself by such manifest tokens, that we can haue no excuse for our ignorance. Therfore let vs remēber that those men doe wickedly abuse this life, & that they be vnworthy to dwel vpon earth, which doe not apply their studies to seeke him. As if euery kinde of bruite beastes should fal from that inclination which they haue naturally, which should for good causes be called monstrous. And surely nothing is more absurd, then that men shuld be ignorant of their Authour, who are indued with vnderstanding principallie for this vse. And we must especially note the goodnesse of God, in that he doth so familiarly insinuate himselfe, that euen the blinde maye grope, after him. For which cause the blindnesse of menne is more shamefull and vntollerable, who in so manifest and euident a manifestation, are touched with no feeling of Gods presence. Whithersoeuer they cast their eies vpward or downward, they must needs light vppon liuely and also infinite images of Gods power, wisedome, and goodnesse. For God hath not darkly shadowed his glory in the creation of the worlde: but he hath euery where ingrauen such manifest markes, that euen blind men may knowe them by groping. Whence wee gather that men are not onely blind, but blockish when being holpen by such excellent testimonies they profit nothing. Yet here ariseth a question, whether men can naturally come vnto the true and merciful knowledge of GOD. For Paul doth giue vs to vnderstande, that their owne sluggishnes is the cause that they cannot perceiue that God is present: because thogh