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…

The feast. That which I said of late touching the vow, doth also appertain unto the feast day. For Paul meant not to do thereby any duty of godliness to God: but to be at the assembly, wherein he might do more good then at any other time of the year. For the Epistle to the Galatians doth sufficiently testify what account he made of difference of days. And we must note that he maketh no promise touching his return,¹ with out using this exception, if it please the Lord. We do all confess that we be not able to stir one finger without his direction: but because there reigneth in men so great arrogance every where, that they dare determine any thing (passing over God) not only for the time to come, but also for many years: we must oftentimes think upon this reverence and sobriety, that we may learn to make our counsels subject to the will and providence of God: least if we deliberate and take counsel as those use to do, who think that they have fortune at their commandment, we be justly punished for our rashness. And though there be not so great religion in words, but that we may at our pleasure say that we will do this or that: yet is it good to accustom our selves to use certain forms in our speeches, that they may put us in mind that God doth direct all our doings.

The feast. That which I said of late touching the vow, doth also appertaine vnto the feast day. For Paul meant not to do thereby any dutie of godlinesse to God: but to be at the assembly, wherein he might do more good then at any other time of the yere. For the Epistle to the Galathians doth sufficiently testifie what accoūt he made of difference of daies. And we must note that he maketh no promise touching his return,¹ with out vsing this exception, if it please the Lord. We do all confesse that we be not able to stirre one finger without his direction: but because there reigneth in men so great arrogancie euery where, that they dare determine any thing (passing ouer God) not onely for the time to come, but also for many yeres: wee must oftentimes thinke vpon this reuerence and sobrietie, that wee may learne to make our counsels subiect to the will and prouidence of God: least if we delyberate and take counsell as those vse to doe, who thinke that they haue fortune at their commaundement, we be iustly punished for our rashnesse. And though ther be not so great religion in wordes, but that we may at our pleasure say that we wil do this or that: yet is it good to accustome our selues to vse certain formes in our speeches, that they may put vs in mind that God doth direct all our doings.