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, for the faults which the Apostles committed in their question, we must consider of them, by the reproachful answer which Jesus Christ maketh them. In the first place we see, that we our selves have experience even of our selves, how curious we are. And now let us see whether we are given to desire such things as are necessary & meet for us. Surely no, for, if we be told twice of a thing, we think it doth but break our brain. Again, if an hard matter, yea & such a thing as in deed is most necessary to be understood, be told us in two words, we think it even enough. What an inconstancy is this in us, not to settle our minds upon necessary things? But if we should hear a sort of tales, lies, and things nothing worth, ho, we would never be weary of hearing of them all the day and night long. And thus we see that our minds are so toyish, as that we have no care of any necessary things: but are desirous of all vain and unprofitable matter: yea, and to speak of any ⟨image 168⟩good and profitable thing, it is (as we say) lost labour. Here we may perceive, how we ought to bestow all our life time, to wit, to consider of the grace that God hath given us, in sending of us Jesus Christ to make us wise: for this wisdom stretcheth it self through heaven and earth. And this is it whereof S. Paul speaketh to the Ephesians,¹ when he maketh mention of length, breadth, height, and depth: That is to say, that so far forth as our minds are able to reach, we should give our selves more and more to understand the love which Jesus Christ hath showed us, in bestowing of us his well-beloved Son Jesus Christ. After this sort (as I have said) must we bestow our time: and yet if we be but preached unto, one half hour, we think it over long. Whereby we see how wandering minded we are to all vain and unprofitable things: and therein take all our delight and pleasure. But if there be any matter in question that might confirm and stay us, or that we be told of things that shall come unto us, we will never hearken to that, but our mind will forthwith be turned clean away, wandering too and fro, building (as we say) castles in the air:

Now, for the faultes which the Apostles cōmitted in their question, we must consider of them, by the reprochfull answere which Iesus Christ maketh them. In the first place we sée, that wée our selues haue experience euen of our selues, how curious we are. And now let vs sée whether we are giuen to desire such thinges as are necessary & méete for vs. Surely no, for, if we be told twise of a thing, we thinke it doth but breake our braine. Againe, if an harde matter, yea & such a thing as in déed is most necessary to be vnderstood, be told vs in two words, we thinke it euen enough. What an inconstancie is this in vs, not to settle our mindes vpon necessary things? But if we should heare a sort of tales, lyes, and things nothing worth, ho, wee would neuer bée weary of hearing of them all the day and night long. And thus we sée yt our minds are so toyish, as that we haue no care of any necessary things: but are desirous of all vaine and vnprofitable matter: yea, and to speake of any