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…

Howbeit it is a wonder to see, that some men can in no wise abide to be rebuked of their faults, although it be generally done: for thus they would cover it, why say they, although there are a great many guilty of the vice which is spoken of, yet are there some, innocent thereof. And so, we shall hear them murmur, saying, why crieth he out thus against all men? For, if there be any such, must he therefore reprove all the rest, and speak it so generally. Thus we see how all of us continually murmur against doctrine, and yet we see, that although there are but a very few which made a jest at this miracle here spoken of, yet S. Peter delivereth his speech unto all men, when he sayeth, All ye that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known unto you that these are not drunk as ye think. And therefore when we see that S Peter spake after this manner, let not us be wiser then the holy Ghost, and when there shall be a fault which is not in all men, yet let not us for all that cease to tell all men of it, and although there may be some which are not guilty thereof, yet let them by this example take heed they murmur not, because they know themselves to be void of such a vice, and yet if they should be more narrowly looked into (it may be) they would be found guilty of a thousand other as great. Let us now see what Saint Peter meaneth by the making of this Sermon: Forsooth, his intent is, to bring the people to the knowledge of Jesus Christ: and this was indeed the end why the tongues were given to the Apostles. For the diversity of tongues did even shut up the gate against the Gospel, so that without the knowledge of them, it seemed impossible to have the Gospel to be preached throughout ⟨p. 181⟩the world. And therefore Saint Peter saith, If ye remember the prophecy of the Prophet Joel, the promise therein contained, is accomplished by the coming of Jesus Christ. For, after the threatenings of the Prophet, he setteth down this promise, That God would pour out his Spirit upon all flesh. Wherein he showeth, that when God will punish the iniquity of the world, it is not to make his chosen people despair, but to confirm them by the exercise of the troubles in this world, which are rather laid upon the chosen then upon the reprobate.

Howbeit it is a wonder to sée, that some men can in no wise abide to be rebuked of their faultes, although it bee generally done: for thus they would couer it, why say they, although there are a great many guiltie of the vice which is spoken of, yet are there some, innocent thereof. And so, we shall heare them murmure, saying, why crieth he out thus against al mē? For, if ther be any such, must hée therfore reproue al the rest, and speake it so generally. Thus wée sée howe al of vs continually murmure against doctrine, and yet we sée, that although there are but a very fewe which made a iest at this myracle here spoken of, yet S. Peter deliuereth his spéeche vnto all men, when he saieth, All yee that dwell in Hierusalem, be this known vnto you that these are not drunke as yee thinke. And therfore when we sée that S Peter spake after this maner, let not vs be wiser then the holy Ghost, and when there shal bee a faulte which is not in all men, yet let not vs for al that cease to tel al men of it, and although there may be some which are not guiltie thereof, yet let them by this example take héede they murmure not, because they knowe themselues to be voyde of such a vice, and yet if they should be more narrowly looked into (it may be) they woulde be found guiltie of a thousand other as great. Let vs now see what Saint Peter meaneth by the making of this Sermon: Forsooth, his intent is, to bring the people to the knowledge of Iesus Christ: and this was indeed the end why the tongues were geuen to the Apostles. For the diuersitie of tongues did euen shut vp the gate against the Gospel, so that without the knowledge of them, it seemed impossible to haue the Gospel to bee preached throughout