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…

whereby it cometh also to pass, that many tie the grace of Christ unto the present ⟨p. 39⟩life, it is expedient for us to be accustomed to think otherwise, that we may know that the kingdom of Christ is spiritual. Therefore to the end God may teach us that the good things of Christ are heavenly, he doth exercise us according to the flesh, with many miseries. Whereby it cometh to pass that we do seek our felicity without the world. Moreover men do bring miseries upon themselves through their unthankfulness. For the servant which knoweth his masters will,¹ and doeth not obey, is worthy of greater & more stripes: The more familiarly that God doeth communicate with us in Christ, the more doth our ungodliness grow and break out into open contumacy: so that it is no marvel if when Christ revealed, there appear many tokens of Gods vengeance on the other side, for as much as men do hereby more grievously provoke God against them, & kindle his wrath through wicked contempt. Surely in that the day of Christ is fearful, it is an accidental thing, whether God will correct our slothfulness, to bring us under which are yet unapt to be taught: or whether he will punish our unthankfulness. For it bringeth with it of it self, nothing but that which is pleasant. But the contempt of Gods grace doeth provoke him to horrible anger not without cause.

whereby it commeth also to passe, that manie tye the grace of Christ vnto the present ⟨p. 39⟩life, it is expedient for vs to be accustomed to thinke otherwise, that we may knowe that the kingdome of Christ is spiritual. Therefore to the ende God may teach vs that the good things of Christ are heauenly, he doth exercise vs according to the flesh, with manie miseries. Whereby it commeth to passe that we do seeke our felicity without the world. Moreouer men doe bring miseries vppon themselues through their vnthankfulnesse. For the seruant which knoweth his masters will,¹ and doeth not obey, is worthy of greater & more stripes: The more familiarly that God doeth communicate with vs in Christ, the more doth our vngodlinesse growe and breake out into open contumacie: so that it is no maruell if when Christ reuealed, there appeare manie tokens of Gods vengeance on the other side, for as much as mē do hereby more grieuously prouoke God against them, & kindle his wrath through wicked contempt. Surely in that the day of Christ is fearefull, it is an accidental thing, whether God will correct our slouthfulnes, to bring vs vnder which are yet vnapt to be taught: or whether he wil punish our vnthankfulnes. For it bringeth with it of it selfe, nothing but that which is pleasant. But the contempt of Gods grace doeth prouoke him to horrible anger not without cause.