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…

These words which Saint Luke hath here set down in the beginning of this parcel of Scripture, serve for a notable example of the wickedness and unthankfulness of men. For behold how the Apostles, who were very well known to be plain country men, & of base estate, spake divers and sundry foreign tongues and languages, excellently handling the true religion, and declaring the salvation which was in Christ Jesus. Now, this thing in deed, was sufficient to have caused them, who heard it spoken of many days after, to fall into a great admiration: and therefore it could not be chosen, but that they which presently behold, & with their own ears heard them speak, must needs be stirred ⟨p. 179⟩up to be brought to the true obedience of the word. Howbeit they would not acknowledge the works of God, whereby they ought to have magnified and glorified him, but even made a jest at them. Well, this fault was not only in the world at those days: but we may see it also in this our age. For God worketh so mightily and effectually always, as that we are no way able to comprehend his doings: and yet for all that, we are no whit moved to thank him for them, but especially, for that great benefit of calling us to the knowledge of his Gospel, which he hath largely bestowed upon us. But contrariwise, do we not see a rabble of scoffers mock and jest at the words of the Lord, and make as great an account of preaching, as if it were an old wives tale told unto them? In which their doing, bear they that reverence unto the word of God which they ought? without all doubt, no. Notwithstanding, although there be a great number of such scoffers, as neither profit by the word of God, nor yet by his miracles, (as some such there were in the company of the Apostles) yet let us not be any whit offended at them, but continue firm and constant, least we fall into the like condemnation, for the contempt of the wonderful works of God, & for our not honouring of him as he ought And this is a good observation for us in the first place. Now, S. Luke saith, that Peter in the behalf of all the Apostles showed that the scoffers and contemners of God were greatly overshot, to scorn and jest at such a miracle which they manifestly saw before their eyes, and that they ought not to have attributed it unto any. such drunkenness, whereof they accused the Apostles.

THese wordes which Saint Luke hath héere set down in the beginning of this percell of Scripture, serue for a notable example of the wickednes and vnthankefulnesse of men. For beholde how the Apostles, who were very wel knowne to bée plaine countrie men, & of base estate, spake diuers and sundry forreine tongues and languages, excellently handling the true religion, and declaring the saluation which was in Christe Iesus. Nowe, this thing in déede, was sufficient to haue caused thē, who heard it spoken of many dayes after, to fall into a great admiration: and therefore it could not be chosen, but that they which presently beholde, & with their owne eares heard them speake, must néedes bee stirred