Divers sermons of Master John Calvin, concerning the divinity, humanity, and nativity of our…Diuers sermons of Master Iohn Caluin, concerning the diuinitie, humanitie, and natiuitie of our…

Now, by this, we see their obedience: For, in mans reason, they might have somewhat replied and said, What? Are not we the Apostles of God? have not we authority to preach his word? Are not we able to execute our charge? They had some show why they might thus have said. For to what purpose had God justified them in this charge, without they might do it? But they knew well enough that it was he whom they must obey, For cursed is that man who trusteth in him self to do any work, before God putteth him forward to do it. And contrariwise, when God sendeth him, he must not strive against it, but say, Lo here am I Lord, employ me as pleaseth thee. And thus we see how Saint Luke showeth, that the Apostles obeyed Jesus Christ, when as he forbade them to depart from Jerusalem, until such time as God had performed his promise unto them. And herein we see that the grace of the holy Ghost had already wrought in them: For not long before, they were clean out of the way, they had forsaken their Master, they knew nothing what the assistance & safeguard of God meant: and suffered Satan to disperse them abroad. But what? when as God had once granted them the grace to understand his voice and meaning, he needed not but to have beckoned his finger, and they would have obeyed him. And if he had forbidden them any thing, they would not have attempted it: But contrariwise when he commanded them to go, neither fire nor water could stay them. Thus then we see that it is God which must work in us, to bring us unto such a subjection. For else, when he would say, retire, we would go on, and when he would bid us march on,¹ we would go back. Now, here we see what our nature is. And this notable mirror have we even in the Jews. For if we read how they behaved them selves, after they were delivered ⟨p. 152⟩out of Egypt, we should there see their wonderful unthankfulness. For, when God commanded them to go against their enemies, and promised them that they should have victory, they would not go on, but murmured against him. Why, say they, whether should we go? It should seem that he goeth about to destroy us, and to send us like sheep to the Butchery. Lo such was their rebellion.

Nowe, by this, we sée their obedience: For, in mans reason, they might haue somewhat replyed and saide, What? Are not we the Apostles of God? haue not we authoritie to preach his worde? Are not we able to execute our charge? They had some shewe why they might thus haue saide. For to what purpose had God iustified them in this charge, without they might doe it? But they knew well enough that it was he whom they must obey, For cursed is that man who trusteth in him selfe to doe any worke, before God putteth him forwarde to doe it. And contrariwise, when God sendeth him, hée must not striue against it, but say, Loe here am I Lorde, employ mée as pleaseth thée. And thus we sée howe Saint Luke sheweth, that the Apostles obeyed Iesus Christ, when as he forbad them to depart from Ierusalem, vntill suche time as God had perfourmed his promise vnto them. And herein we sée that the grace of the holy Ghost had alredie wrought in them: For not long before, they were clean out of the way, they had forsakē their Maister, they knew nothing what ye assistance & sauegard of God ment: and suffred Satan to disperse them abroad. But what? when as God had once graunted them the grace to vnderstande his voyce and meaning, hée néeded not but to haue beckened his finger, and they woulde haue obeyed him. And if he had forbidden them any thing, they would not haue attempted it: But contrariwise when he commaunded them to goe, neither fyre nor water coulde staye them. Thus then wee sée that it is God whiche must worke in vs, to bring vs vnto such a subiection. For els, when he would say, retyer, we would goe on, and when he woulde byd vs march on,