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…

It must therefore needs fall out, that the spirit of God governed the Apostles, for else, they had become dumb. We see besides, how gross headed they were: For they might have bin more quick and sharp witted, but that God meant to show unto us, as in a glass, by their grossness, what we are, until such time as he hath enlightened us with his grace. In deed, when the Apostles kept company with our Lord Jesus, whom they took to be their master, they very soberly obeyed his doctrine: But in the mean while, what was their knowledge? without doubt, we see that they were very beasts, insomuch that when we consider of them, how little they profited in so good a School, their slackness should make us ashamed. Howbeit this their dealing hath greatly profited us: For, behold, they were changed in the minute of an hour, whereby the grace of God hath shined a great deal the more, because we see they spake so wonderful mightily of the secretes of God, whereat every man was abashed, where, before, it was thought to be nothing.

It must therefore néedes fall out, that the spirite of God gouerned the Apostles, for els, they had become dumbe. We sée besides, how groase headed they were: For they might haue bin more quick and sharpe witted, but that God meant to shew vnto vs, as in a glasse, by their groasenesse, what we are, vntill such time as he hath enlightned vs with his grace. In déed, when the Apostles kept company with our Lord Iesus, whō they tooke to be their maister, they verie soberly obeyed his doctrine: But in the meane while, what was their knowledge? without doubt, we sée that they were verie beastes, insomuch that when we consider of them, howe litle they profited in so good a Schoole, their slacknesse should make vs ashamed. Howbeit this their dealing hath greatly profited vs: For, behold, they were chaunged in the minute of an houre, whereby the grace of God hath shined a great deale the more, because wée sée they spake so wonderfull mightely of the secretes of God, whereat euerie man was abashed, where, before, it was thought to be nothing.

Moreover, let us consider of their power and constancy: surely, they all quailed, and it should seem that their faith was dead and of no force. For, mark how Peter even one of the chiefest of them villainously forsook his Master, and yielded himself the bondslave of Satan. Wherefore it was God that must put too his hand: because it was impossible for any man to help it. And so, let us observe, that it was not without cause that the spirit of God appeared in the likeness of tongues, because it was a declaration, that God, by that mean had allowed and sealed up the doctrine of the Gospel, to the end we might reverently, and humbly receive it, and not reason from whence it came: seeing God hath stretched forth his arm, and declared him self to be the Author thereof. And besides, it is not without cause, that they were cloven and fiery tongues. For we know, how mankind had divided it self, by the estranging of it self from God. And the platform that was laid for the building up of the Tower of Babylon,