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…

We are taught by this example, what is our duty to do, when our adversaries do imperiously threaten us. For we must not carelessly laugh in time of danger, but the fear of danger ought to drive us to crave help at the hands of God: and this is a remedy to comfort and set us up on foot, least being terrified with threatenings, we cease off from doing our duty. Here is a double fruit of this history: that the disciples of Christ do not jest when they hear that their enemies do threaten them so sore, and press so sore upon them, as careless and sluggish men use to do, but being touched with fear, they fly to seek help at the hands of God: And again they are not terrified, neither yet do they conceive any immoderate fear: but crave of God invincible constancy with right godly petitions.

Wee are taught by this example, what is our duetie to doe, when our aduersaries doe imperiously threaten vs. For wee must not careleslie laugh in time of daunger, but the feare of daunger ought to driue vs to craue helpe at the hands of God: and this is a remedie to comfort and set vs vp on foote, least being terrified with threatnings, wee cease off from doing our duetie. Heere is a double fruit of this historie: that the disciples of Christ doe not ieast when they heare that their enimies doe threaten them so sore, and prease so sore vppon them, as carelesse and sluggish men vse to doe, but being touched with feare, they flie to seeke helpe at the handes of God: And againe they are not terrified, neither yet do they conceiue any immoderate feare: but craue of God inuincible constancie with right godly petitions.

24 Thou art God which hast created. Although this title and commendation of Gods power be general, yet it ought to be referred unto the present matter. For they do in such sort acknowledge the power of God in the creation of the whole world, that they apply the same therewith all unto the present use. In like sort the Prophets do oftentimes commend the same, to the end they may redress that fear which troubleth us when we behold the power of our enemies. Secondly they add thereunto the promise: & they make these two the foundations of their boldness, wherewith they are emboldened to pray. And surely our prayers are such as they ought to be, and acceptable to God, only then, when as staying our selves upon his promises and power, we pray with certain hope to obtain that for which we pray. For we cannot otherwise have any true confidence, unless God do will us to come unto him, and promise that he is ready to help us: and secondly unless we acknowledge that he is able enough to help us. Wherefore let the faithful exercise themselves in this double meditation, so often as they address themselves unto prayer. Furthermore we gather hereby after what sort we ought to consider the creation of the world: to wit, that we may know that all things are subject to God, and ruled by his will: and when that the world hath done what it can, there shall no other thing come to pass but that which God hath decreed: yea that the wantonness of the