The lectures or daily sermons, of that reverend divine, D. John Calvin, pastor of…The lectures or daily sermons, of that reuerend diuine, D. Iohn Caluine, pastor of…

This was an excellent intent, if we may be Judges, or if the matter be esteemed according to our senses, but by and by we shall see that it was condemned by the mouth of God. Let us learn therefore not to arrogate unto our selves judgement in those things which pass our capacity, but to submit our minds unto God, and to desire of him the spirit of discretion and judgement. How came it to pass that Jonah so should fret against God, but that he was inflamed with the study of his glory? but this was an inconsiderate zeal, because he himself would be arbiter and judge: he ought rather to have submitted himself unto God: and this same rule is to be kept of us all. If at any time we see many things come to pass from above, that is by the secret providence of God, which do even lay open the name of God to the blasphemies of wicked and ungodly men, this truly is to be lamented: but in the mean time let us desire of the Lord, that he will at the length convert those reproaches unto his own glory, but let not us murmur & grudge: as many do, which by and by begin to chide against God, as often as a thing is otherwise governed and directed, then they themselves list, or do think convenient. Let us learn by the example of Jonah not to measure the judgements of God by our own capacity, but let us patiently weight till he convert the darkness into light. In the mean time also let us learn to obey his commandments, to follow his call without controversy: although heaven and earth should set them selves against us, although many things do come in ⟨image 68⟩our way, which might turn us away from the right course, yet let us continue in this sure determination, that nothing can be better for us, then that we being obedient, may go forward in the same way which he setteth before us. But where as he saith, that, He made haste to come to Tarshish, he doth not altogether excuse his flight, but now he declareth more evidently, that he had not refused any trouble or labour, nor yet had refused any controversy or danger: but only because he was careful for the glory of God, therefore he was drawn away from his vocation.

This was an excellent intent, if we may be Iudges, or if the matter be esteemed according to our sences, but by and by we shall sée that it was condemned by the mouth of God. Let vs learne therefore not to arrogate vnto our selues iudgement in those things which passe our capacitye, but to submitte our minds vnto God, and to desire of him the spirite of discretion and iudgement. How came it to passe that Ionas so should frette against God, but that he was inflamed with the studdy of his glory? but this was an inconsiderate zeale, because he himselfe woulde be arbiter and iudge: hee ought rather to haue submitted himselfe vnto God: and this same rule is to be kept of vs all. If at any tyme we see many things come to passe from aboue, that is by the secret prouidence of God, which doo euen laye open the name of God to the blasphemies of wicked and vngodly men, this truly is to be lamented: but in the mean tyme let vs desire of the Lord, that he will at the length conuert those reproches vnto his owne glory, but let not vs murmur & grudge: as many doo, which by and by beginne to chide against God, as often as a thing is otherwise gouerned and directed, then they themselues liste, or doo thinke conuenient. Let vs learne by the example of Ionas not to measure the iudgements of God by our owne capacitie, but let vs paciently waight till he conuert the darkenesse into light. In the meane tyme also let vs learne to obey his cōmaundements, to follow his call without controuersie: although heauen and earth shoulde set them selues against vs, although many thinges do come in