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…

This is the cause why men were so bold in all ages, to make Idols. And God doeth in deed apply himself to our rudeness thus far, that he showeth himself visibly after a sort under figures. For there were many signs under the Law to testify his presence. And he cometh down unto us even at this day by Baptism, and the Supper, and also by the external preaching of the word. But men offend two manner of ways in this: for first being not content with the means which God hath appointed, they boldly get to themselves new means. This is no small fault, because their fingers itch always to have new inventions without keeping any mean, and so they are not afraid to pass the bounds which God hath appointed them. But there can be no true image of God, save that which he appointed. Therefore what images so ever are feigned and invented by man besides his word, they are false & corrupt. There is also another vice no less intolerable, that as mans mind conceiveth nothing of God but that which is gross and earthly, so it translateth all tokens of Gods presence unto the same grossness. Neither doth man delight in those idols only, which he himself hath made, but also doth corrupt whatsoever God hath ordained, by wresting it unto a contrary end. God cometh down unto us in deed as I have already said: but to this end, that he may lift us up into heaven with him. But we, because we are wholly set upon the earth, will in like sort have ⟨p. 163⟩him in the earth. By this means is his heavenly glory deformed, and that fulfilled altogether which the Israelites say here, Make us gods. For whosoever he be that doth not worship God spiritually, he maketh unto himself a new God. and yet if ye throughly weigh all things, the Israelites will not have a God made of set purpose by them, but they think rather that they have the true and eternal God under the shape of the golden Calf. For they are ready to offer the appointed sacrifice, & they approve that with their consent, which Aaron sayeth, that those are the gods by whom they were brought out of Egypt. But God passeth not for those frivolous imaginations: but he complaineth that men put strange gods in his place, so soon as they depart even a very little from his word.

This is the cause why men were so bolde in all ages, to make Idols. And God doeth in deede apply himselfe to our rudenesse thus farre, that he sheweth himselfe visiblie after a sort vnder figures. For there were manie signes vnder the Law to testifie his presence. And he commeth downe vnto vs euen at this day by Baptisme, and the Supper, and also by the externall preaching of the worde. But men offende two manner of wayes in this: for first being not content with the meanes which God hath appointed, they boldly get to themselues new meanes. This is no small fault, because their fingers itch alwayes to haue new inuentions without keeping any meane, and so they are not afraid to passe the bounds which God hath appointed them. But there can be no true image of God, saue that which he appointed. Therefore what images so euer are feigned and inuented by man besides his word, they are false & corrupt. There is also another vice no lesse intollerable, that as mans minde conceiueth nothing of God but that which is grosse and earthly, so it translateth all tokens of Gods presence vnto the same grossenesse. Neither doth man delight in those idols onely, which hee himselfe hath made, but also doth corrupt whatsoeuer God hath ordeined, by wresting it vnto a contrary end. God commeth downe vnto vs in deede as I haue alredy said: but to this ende, that he may lift vs vp into heauen with him. But we, because wee are wholy set vpon the earth, will in like sort haue