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…

so that he which hath Goods, thinketh neither of his possessions, nor of his riches, and he that hath none, will continue and abide like a senseless brute beast, and never once think upon that which is spoken unto him. Behold I pray you how closely we are linked to this vice, and there is no man, but is condemned before God thereof. And although we see that the Apostles were curious to understand of things which appertained nothing unto them, yet let not us be busy to condemn them in it, but let us know that there is matter enough in us to condemn our selves. Seeing then we know this to be so common a fault, every of us ought to withdraw his mind from being so fantastical, and not wittingly, be so toy headed, but let us apply our minds, to understand whatsoever it pleaseth God liberally to bestow upon us from out of the knowledge of his counsel, and hold us there: and let us diligently weigh the saying that is here set down. It is not for you to know the times and seasons, which the father, hath put in his own power. Now this saying ought to bridle us and pull us back at once, from all curiosity, yea and although our nature would prick us to go on, yet ought we to draw back, and understand what Solomon ⟨p. 162⟩sayeth, that he which goeth about to seek out the secretes of God, shall be oppressed with his glory.¹ And therefore if we be such curious searchers, he will make us right well feel, that he spake not this in vain. Wherefore let not us go beyond this reach: but let us look what it is that he forbiddeth us to search after: That which the Father hath put in his own power. Now here might rise a question, to wit, whether the father hath put in his own power, Winter, and Summer, and the rule of all times, and seasons? Yea, it is true. It should seem then, that his meaning is, that we ought not to make enquiry after these things. No not so, for that is not the thing which the father hath in his own power, whereof Jesus Christ spake unto his Apostles, that it is not for them to know of it: but he spake of things which he reserved a part unto himself, and the knowledge of which, is clearly forbidden us: and therefore not for us to know of it. Now he hath declared unto us, the things which come by order of nature: that winter must be cold, and Summer hot.

so that hée which hath Goods, thinketh neither of his possessions, nor of his riches, and hée that hath none, will continue and abide like a senslesse bruite beast, and neuer once thinke vpon that which is spoken vnto him. Behold I pray you how closely we are linked to this vice, and there is no man, but is condemned before God thereof. And although wée sée that the Apostles were curious to vnderstande of thinges which appertayned nothing vnto them, yet let not vs be busie to condēne them in it, but let vs know that there is matter ynough in vs to condemne our selues. Séeing then wée know this to bée so common a fault, euery of vs ought to withdraw his mind from being so fantasticall, and not wittingly, be so toy headed, but let vs apply our minds, to vnderstand whatsoeuer it pleaseth God liberally to bestow vpon vs from out of the knowledge of his counsell, and hold vs there: and let vs diligently weigh the saying that is héere set downe. It is not for you to know the times and seasons, which the father, hath put in his owne power. Now this saying ought to bridle vs and pull vs backe at once, from al curiositie, yea and although our nature would pricke vs to goe on, yet ought wée to draw backe, and vnderstand what Solomon