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…

And why then did he not utter it unto us sooner? How happeneth it that it was not perceived ere this? too the end we should not so overshoot our selves, S. Paul sayeth that this purpose was after a sort locked up in God, till it was uttered unto us. And so, too be short, it is not lawful for us too know any more than is uttered unto us in the Gospel: and look what is showed us there, it behoveth us too reverence it. And for the same cause it is added, that his so doing was too set forth the same in the fullness of time.

And why then did he not vtter it vntoo vs sooner? How happeneth it that it was not perceyued ere this? too the ende wee should not so ouershoote our selues, S. Paule sayeth that this purpose was after a sort locked vp in God, till it was vttered vntoo vs. And so, too bee short, it is not lawfull for vs too knowe any more than is vttered vntoo vs in the Gospell: and looke what is shewed vs there, it behoueth vs too reuerence it. And for the same cause it is added, that his so dooyng vvas too set foorth the same in the fulnesse of tyme.

Now herein he showeth, that men may well vex themselves, but yet shall they come short of their purpose, and all their wits & imaginations shall fail them, if they go about too know more than God hath given them leave to know. For if any man demand why God hasted no rather too do it: therein he showeth that he would be wiser than God. And is not that a devilish pride? Is the creature worthy to go upon the ground, when it advanceth it self so high? For this cause S. Paul sayeth, that the appointing thereof belongeth unto God. For if a man may set order after this manner, in his own house & say: I will have my folk to fare thus, I will have them to drink such drink, I will have them too eat that kind of bread, I will have them lodged after this manner: how much more ought we too let God do so? why should ⟨p. 28⟩he have less privilege than worms of the earth? Therefore let us give God leave to dispose of his church, & of the welfare of his chosen, as liketh best himself. And as for the time, let us take that for the full time which it shall please him too show us. For it is not for us too be either judges or umpires in this case, too measure the times, years, months, or days: but it ought too content us, that God listeth too ave it so. Some man will argue the case and say: what, I pray you? Behold, four thousand years passed between the fall of Adam and he coming of Christ: and could not God have remedied the matter y sending the redeemer of the world sooner? See what a number of retched folk wandered away in darkness: behold the destruction f mankind as a waterflood that swallowed up all things: and yet in […] mean while Jesus Christ was hidden. Besides this, a small number f men tasted of him, only by figures & shadows. For none but the ewes waited for the redeemer, to obtain salvation by his means: […] yet even they were fain to use calves & sheep & other brute beasts, to ascertain them selves of the forgiveness of their sins, and that God was merciful to them. If a man ask how this cometh to pass: let us repair too that which is said here in one word: namely that the time was not yet fully come. And why? Because God had so appointed it. And this is the very selfsame thing that we have seen already in the Epistle to the Galatians, where S.