A17690:555
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…
Divers sermons of Master John Calvin, concerning the divinity, humanity, and nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ as also touching his passion, death, resurrection, ascension: together with the coming down of the holy Ghost upon his Apostles: and the first sermon of S. Peter. The order of which you shall find in the page ensuing.Diuers sermons of Master Iohn Caluin, concerning the diuinitie, humanitie, and natiuitie of our Lorde Iesus Christe as also touching his passion, death, resurection, ascention: togeather with the comming downe of the holy Ghoste vpon his Apostles: and the first sermon of S. Peter. The order of which you shall finde in the page ensuing.
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for George Byshop, 1581
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
In this, Jesus Christ adviseth us, that we do rashly in enquiring to understand farther of any thing, then God declareth unto us For it is as if we who have no wings, would fly beyond the Moon: seeing that if we knew our state, we would be very wary how we advanced our selves as we are wonted to do. And herein we are diligently to note this saying, The power of the holy ghost coming upon you: Which is as much as if he had said, understand ye poor and miserable wretches, What you are, what spirit have you to understand so hie things? how is it possible for these things to enter into you. Learn therefore to humble your selves rather, and acknowledge your ignorance, and pray unto God.
In this, Iesus Christ aduiseth vs, that wee doo rashly in enquiring to vnderstand farther of any thing, then God declareth vnto vs For it is as if wée who haue no winges, would flye beyond the Moone: séeing that if wée knew our state, wée would be very warie how wée aduaunced our selues as wée are wonted to doo. And héerein we are diligently to note this saying, The power of the holy ghost comming vpon you: Which is as much as if he had said, vnderstand yee poore and miserable wretches, What you are, what spirite haue you to vnderstand so hie thinges? how is it possible for these thinges to enter into you. Learne therefore to humble your selues rather, and acknowledge your ignorance, and pray vnto God.
In sum, we have here a general advertisement, that whiles God leaveth us to our own wits, we are as brutish as may be, and the least thing in the world will dull us: so that we shall not be able to understand the least parcel of scripture, although it be handled before us piecemeal. And therefore this understanding must come from God, who of his mere goodness bestoweth it upon us. For although we have the Scriptures expounded unto us, it is none otherwise then as if the Sun shined upon us, being stark blind. Wherefore, there remaineth nothing for us, but to beseech the Lord to help our ignorance.
In summe, wée haue héere a generall aduertisment, that whiles God leaueth vs to our owne wittes, we are as bruitishe as maye be, and the least thing in the world will dull vs: so that wee shall not be able to vnderstand the least percell of scripture, although it be handeled before vs péecemeale. And therfore this vnderstanding must come from God, who of his méere goodnesse bestoweth it vpon vs. For although we haue the Scriptures expounded vnto vs, it is none otherwise then as if the Sun shined vpō vs, being stark blinde. Wherfore, there remaineth nothing for vs, but to beséech the Lorde to helpe our ignoraunce.