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, we could be very well contented to bear a little blame for him. But we would not step one foot forward to abide to be hated, despised, and afflicted. And yet this must we do because it is not in us to change the inviolable order, which God hath set down. We would be glad to know what is done in heaven, but we would not hold the way thither, and surely God hath not placed us here below, but to the end to serve Jesus Christ in this world, that we might be partakers of his glory, after that we have with might and main resisted all the assaults which were attempted against us, for the withdrawing of us from him. But if we have a desire to know what is done in heaven, and will not hold the way thither, it is very mockery. We must therefore, look whereunto God hath called us, and we shall find that he hath called us to fight, and it is so hard a matter for us to overcome ⟨p. 164⟩these combats as that we shall have no leisure to occupy our selves to seek after vain and curious things which serve us to no purpose: but let it suffice us that we have this word which showeth us which way to hold. Now, here are two things wherewith Jesus Christ correcteth the curiosity of his Apostles: to wit, he telleth them, that they must discern of the thing which they have to do. Lo here I say, is the way whereby to correct this fault whereunto we are inclined: to wit, we must look unto the thing which God teacheth us by his word: and then if we shall be very diligent herein, we shall surely be quit of this fault, of being over fool hardy and curious. First of all, they have the promises which Jesus Christ made them: The holy Ghost shall come upon you: As if he should have said, Be you contented with that which God meaneth to send you. And therefore let us learn, that when our nature tickleth us, to cast away our fond presumption, and hold us to the promises of GOD, and acknowledge and say, Lo whereunto it is that we must stick, let us then be contented herewith, & feed and refresh us with it. And besides, we have the commandments of God to lead us to understand what he will have us to do.

Now, we coulde be very well contented to beare a litle blame for him. But we would not step one foote forewarde to abide to be hated, despised, and afflicted. And yet this must wee doo because it is not in vs to chaunge the inviolable order, which God hath sette downe. We would bee glad to know what is done in heauen, but we would not hold the way thither, and surely God hath not placed vs héere belowe, but to the ende to serue Iesus Christ in this worlde, that we might be partakers of his glory, after yt wee haue with might and maine resisted all the assaultes whiche were attempted against vs, for the withdrawing of vs from him. But if we haue a desire to know what is done in heauen, and will not holde the way thither, it is very mockery. Wee must therefore, looke whereunto God hath called vs, and wee shall finde that hee hath called vs to fight, and it is so harde a matter for vs to ouercome