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…

and that we ought not too curiously and boldly to demand and require the cause why he put away darkness no sooner: but that whatsoever pleased him ought to seem to us right and equal without making any more ado. For though this be a hard speech that men were miserably deceived long time, whiles that God made as though he saw it not: yet must we be content with, and stay our selves upon his providence. And if at any time there come upon us a vain and perverse desire to know more than is meet for us, let us straightway call to mind that which Paul teacheth in many places, that,¹ It was a mystery hid since the beginning of the world, in that the light of the Gospel did appear to the Gentiles at a sudden: and that this is a token of the manifold wisdom of God, which swalloweth up all the senses of men. Again let us remember that it doeth not lessen the fault of men, because God would not heal their errors: forasmuch as their own conscience shall always hold them convict, that they cannot escape just damnation. And Paul (not that he might lay the fault and blame upon God, but that he might cut off occasion of curious and hurtful questions) said that the world did err whiles God did wink. And hereby we learn how reverently we ought to think of Gods providence: least any man should be so bold, as mans nature is proud, to demand a reason of God of his works. Furthermore this admonition is no less profitable for us, than for the men of that time. The enemies of the Gospel when it beginneth to spring again, count it a great absurdity that God did suffer men to go astray so long under the apostasy of the Pope: as if (though there appear no reason) ⟨p. 436⟩it were not as lawful for him now to wink at mens ignorance, as in times past. And we must principally note to what end he sayeth this, to wit, that the ignorance of former time may not hinder us from obeying God without delay, when he speaketh. Most men think that they have a fair colour for their error, so they have their fathers to keep them company, or so they get some patronage or defence by long custom: yea they would willingly creep out here, that they may not obey the word of God. But Paul sayeth that we must not set an excuse from our fathers ignorance, when god speaketh unto us:

and that we ought not too curiously and boldly to demande and require the cause why hee put away darknesse no sooner: but that whatsoeuer pleased him ought to seem to vs right and equall without making any more adoe. For though this bee a hard speech that men were miserablie deceiued long time, whiles that God made as though he sawe it not: yet must we bee content with, and stay our selues vpon his prouidence. And if at any time there come vppon vs a vaine and peruerse desire to know more than is meete for vs, let vs streightway cal to minde that which Paul teacheth in manie places, that,