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…

Therefore it was as it were the foundation of the building which was to come, in that the people was touched with amazedness. For if we pass over the works of God contemptibly or carelessly, we shall never be able to profit by them. Furthermore this place doth teach us, what miracles do work of themselves in men: to wit, that they breed a confused amazedness. For although the Lord doth call us straightway unto himself by showing plainly his goodness and power there, yet such is the weakness of our nature that we stumble or faint in the midway, until such time as we be holpen by doctrine. Let us therefore learn reverently to consider the works of God, that the wondering at them, may make an entrance for doctrine. For when doctrine is cold and unprofitable with us, God doeth justly punish our unthankfulness by this means, because we have despised the glory of his works. Again because we are not so quick of sight, that we can see so much in the works of God alone, as is sufficient, let us learn to join therewithal the help of doctrine. To be brief, the one ought not to be separated from the other. Which thing experience doth sufficiently teach us. For hereby it came to pass that the world did so wickedly abuse miracles. The Papists do object unto us miracles again and again. Let us suppose that they be true, whereof they make such boast, yet do they ⟨p. 71⟩greatly err in this, that they wrest them to a wrong end: to wit, that they may darken the name of God, and infect the pure trueth of the Gospel with their inventions. For, whence come so many superstitious worshippings of saints, save only from the abuse of miracles? For when any miracle is wrought, men must needs be moved. And because they are deaf when they should hear the word, and do not mark what God doth mean, Satan doeth craftily take an occasion of superstition by our amazedness. As for example: I will acknowledge the power of God in a miracle. If it were wrought by Peter, Satan will by and by put this in my head, and will say thus: Doest thou not see that this is a man of God? therefore thou doest owe unto him divine honour. The same thing had befallen the Jews when they were amazed, unless Peter his sermon had called them back into the right way.

Therefore it was as it were the foundation of the building which was to come, in that the people was touched with amazednes. For if we passe ouer the works of God contemptiblie or carelesly, we shal neuer be able to profit by them. Furthermore this place doth teach vs, what myracles do work of themselues in men: to wit, that they breede a confused amazednesse. For although the Lord doth call vs streightway vnto himselfe by shewing plainely his goodnes and power there, yet such is the weaknesse of our nature that wee stumble or faint in the midway, vntill such time as we bee holpen by doctrine. Let vs therefore learne reuerentlie to consider the workes of God, that the woondring at them, may make an entrance for doctrine. For when doctrine is colde and vnprofitable with vs, God doeth iustly punish our vnthankefulnesse by this meanes, because we haue despised the glorie of his workes. Againe because wee are not so quicke of sight, that wee can see so much in the workes of God alone, as is sufficient, let vs learne to ioyne therewithall the helpe of doctrine. To be briefe, the one ought not to be separated from the other. Which thing experience doth sufficiently teach vs. For heereby it came to passe that the worlde did so wickedlie abuse myracles. The Papistes doe obiect vnto vs myracles againe and againe. Let vs suppose that they bee true, whereof they make such boast, yet doe they