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…

IF we could enter into the consideration of our weakness, whenas God forsaketh us, we should do our selves great good. Now, under this word weakness, I mean all our vices and imperfections: as very feeble things, and easily to be overcome with every temptation, according to the corruption and perverseness of our gross wits and minds. Wherefore, whenas we shall have deeply considered of these things, we must pray unto God, and beseech him to have an eye to the remedying of all the miseries, whereunto we are subject. Thus we see I say, how we shall greatly profit our selves, by the consideration of these things. We have therefore to note the matter which Saint Luke setteth down here in this place: because he declareth how gross minded the Apostles were, having been taught by the space of three whole years, from the mouth of our Lord Jesus Christ all whatsoever belonged to their salvation. Here then we see that they are like unto young Scholars, as if they had never understood one word of that which was taught them. And what is the reason? Forsooth, we should be continually unable to any goodness without GOD should first correct this ignorance: which is a thing that ought greatly to humble us. And therefore, we must understand that our hearing of whatsoever is said unto us, will be to no purpose, and that because it is spoken as unto a Block, until such time as God taketh away the grossness of our corrupt nature: for else we shall never understand what he saith unto us: by reason his word is far beyond our reach. Neither need we any other proof to con damn the ignorance of the Apostles, than their own words. For the question which they asked Jesus Christ was foolish, & of no valour: but only a superfluous curiosity, whenas they said unto him, wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom of Israel? now by saying, at this time they declared that they would even at the first dash, have come to honour without any more pains taking, & whereas they were called to take pains for the planting of the gospel throughout the world, they would in no wise away with it, but be forth with filled with all manner of prosperity, with was a double fault: besides, when they spake of the Kingdom, ⟨image 167⟩they •ayled also in that: For they thought our Lord Jesus Christ should have been an earthly King, and reign after the manner of worldly Princes:

IF wée could enter into the consideration of our weakenesse, whenas God forsaketh vs, we should doe our selues greate good. Nowe, vnder this woorde weaknesse, I meane all our vices and imperfections: as very féeble thinges, and easily to bée ouercome with euery temptation, according to the corruption and peruersenesse of our grose wits and mindes. Wherefore, whenas wée shal haue déepely considered of these thinges, wée must pray vnto God, and beséech him to haue an eye to the remedying of all the miseries, wherunto wée are subiect. Thus we sée I say, how wée shal greatly profite our selues, by the consideration of these things. We haue therfore to note the matter which Saint Luke setteth downe héere in this place: because hée declareth how grosse mynded the Apostles were, hauing béen taught by the space of thrée whole yéeres, from the mouth of our Lorde Iesus Christ all whatsoeuer belonged to their saluation. Héere then wée sée that they are like vnto young Schollers, as if they had neuer vnderstood one woord of that which was taught them. And what is the reason? Forsooth, wée should bée continually vnable to any goodnesse without GOD shoulde firste correct this ignoraunce: which is a thing that ought greatly to humble vs. And therefore, wée must vnderstand that our hearing of whatsoeuer is saide vnto vs, will bée to no purpose, and that because it is spoken as vnto a Blocke, vntil such time as God taketh away the grosnesse of our corrupt nature: for els wée shall neuer vnderstand what hée saith vnto vs: by reason his woord is farre beyong our reach. Neither néed wée any other proofe to cō demne the ignorance of the Apostles, thē their own words. For the questiō which they asked Iesus Christ was foolish, & of no valure: but only a superfluous curiosity, whenas they saide vnto him, wilt thou at this time restore ye kingdō of Israel? now by saying, at this time they declared yt they would euē at the first dash, haue come to honor without any more paynes taking, & whereas they were called to take paines for ye plāting of ye gospel throughout ye world, they wold in no wise away wt yt, but be forth wt filled wt al maner of prosperity, wt was a double fault: besides, whē they spake of the Kingdome,