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…

Filling with meat and gladness. The ungodliness of men is more convict in that, if they knew not God, because he doeth not only set before their eyes, testimonies of his glory in his works: but doth also appoint all things for their use. For why doth the Sun & stars shine in the heavens, save only that they may serve men? Why doth the rain fall from heaven? Why doth the earth bring forth her increase, save only that they may minister food to men? Therefore God hath not set man upon earth, that he may be an idle beholder of his works as being set upon a Theatre, but to exercise himself in praising the liberality of God, whiles that he enjoyeth the riches of heaven & earth. And now, is it not more than filthy frowardness, not to be moved with so great goodness of god in the manifold abundance of things? To fill the hearts with meat doth signify nothing else but to give food, which may satisfy the desires of men. By this word gladness Paul and Barnabas do mean that God doth give more to men according to his infinite goodness, then their necessity doth require: as if it had been said, that men have meat given them not only to refresh their strength, but also to make their harts merry. If any man do object that it falleth out so oftentimes, that men do rather mourn being hungry, then rejoice being full. I answer, that that cometh to pass contrary to the order of nature: namely, when ⟨p. 342⟩the Lord shutteth his hand because of the sins of men. For the liberality of God should flow unto us abundantly of his own accord, as it is here described by Paul and Barnabas, unless it were kept back by the lets of our vices. And yet there was never so great barrenness, wherein the blessing of God in feeding men did quite wither away. It was indeed well said of the Prophet, Open thy mouth, and I will fill it, that we may know that we be hungry through our own fault,¹ whiles that we do not admit the goodness of God. But how unworthy soever we be & straight, yet the fatherly love of God breaketh through even unto the unworthy. Especially the generality of mankind doth testify that the benefits of God do never cease, wherein he appeareth to be our father.

Filling with meat and gladnesse. The vngodlinesse of men is more conuict in that, if they knew not God, because hee doeth not only set before their eyes, testimonies of his glory in his workes: but doth also appoint all things for their vse. For why doth the Sun & starres shine in the heauens, saue only that they may serue men? Why doth the raine fall from heauen? Why doth the earth bring foorth her increase, saue onely that they may minister food to men? Therefore God hath not set man vpon earth, that he may be an idle beholder of his workes as being set vpon a Theater, but to exercise himself in praising the liberalitie of God, whiles that he enioyeth the riches of heauen & earth. And now, is it not more than filthie frowardnesse, not to be moued with so great goodnes of god in the manifold abundance of thinges? To fill the hearts with meat doth signifie nothing els but to giue foode, which may satisfie the desires of men. By this word gladnes Paul and Barnabas do meane that God doth giue more to men according to his infinite goodnesse, then their necessitie doth require: as if it had been saide, that men haue meate giuen them not only to refresh their strength, but also to make their harts merie. If any man do obiect that it falleth out so oftentimes, that men doe rather mourne being hungrie, then reioyce beeing full. I aunswere, that that commeth to passe contrarie to the order of nature: namely, when