The sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle of S. Paul too the…The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the…

Pauls meaning in this text, is that when soever God keepeth his purpose to himself, it becometh us to stoop, and too hold our selves contented too be ignorant of it. For it is a cursed wisdom, and such a wisdom as sendeth us too the pit of hell, when we take leave too know more than God hath taught us. And contrariwise we be wiser in our ignorance than all the wise men of the world, when we take not upon us too know any thing further than Gods word guideth and governeth us. True it is that there is not any mo than only one single will in God. Nevertheless he uttereth the same unto us according too our capacity, and so far forth as is expedient and profitable for us. As for example, we have seen that the forgiveness of sins is a point that we cannot overpass nor forbear: and therefore zachary calls it the knowledge of salvation. Again, it standeth us on hand too know where the forgiveness of our sins is too be sought for. For if we have not Jesus Christ,¹ we continue still enemies unto God, we have no agreement nor rest in our selves, and Gods justice must needs pursue us: but Jesus Christ is ⟨image 44⟩our peace. Furthermore, when we know the things that are witnessed to us by Gods word, we must therewithal reverence the mysteries that are hidden from us, as hath bin said already, and must hereafter be said again, when we come too Gods election. And S. Paul doth yet again set down here the word of foreordaining or forepurpozing, to •hewe that God had predestinated us before the making of the world, and yet that the same was hidden. Yea verily: but now is the same discovered unto us, sayeth he. Thus ye see in effect, that the thing which we have too bear in mind, is that we be not called too the knowledge of the Gospel by our own towardness, nor for that any of us putteth forth himself too it of his own accord, nor for that we have bound God unto us by any virtue of ours: but for that God of his own infinite goodness listed too enlighten us. And he hath not done it because it came suddenly in his mind too do it, as men are wont too do, who are carried with sudden braids: but because he had determined the same in his own purpose, even from before all time. And if our wits be ticklish and provoke us too be inquisitive and too say, How so? Had God chosen us aforehand?

Paules meaning in this text, is that whē soeuer God keepeth his purpose to himself, it becommeth vs to stoope, and too holde our selues contented too bee ignorant of it. For it is a cursed wisdome, and such a wisdome as sendeth vs too the pit of hell, when wee take leaue too knowe more than God hath taught vs. And contrariwise wee bee wyzer in our ignorance than all the wyze men of the world, when wee take not vppon vs too knowe any thing further than Gods woord guydeth and gouerneth vs. Trew it is that there is not any mo than onely one single will in God. Neuerthelesse he vttereth the same vntoo vs according too our capacitie, and so farre foorth as is expedient and profitable for vs. As for example, wee haue seene that the forgiuenesse of sinnes is a poynt that wee cannot ouerpasse nor forbeare: and therefore zacharie calles it the knowledge of saluation. Agein, it standeth vs on hand too knowe where the forgiuenesse of our sinnes is too bee sought for. For if wee haue not Iesus Christ,