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…

S. Paul prayeth God here expressly too give the Ephesians the spirit of wisdom and revelation. It is certain that God had already revealed too them the truth of his Gospel, as it is seen. And verily we could not have one spark of faith, or of light, except God had wrought in us already,¹ according as it is said to Peter in the sixteenth chapter of S. Matthew, Flesh and blood hath not opened these things unto thee, but my heavenly father which is in heaven. And yet for all this, Peter showeth afterward, that he knew not any whit of Christs spiritual kingdom. Then although he were but as a silly novice sat his A. B. C. yet is it witnessed of him, that the small taste of the Gospel which he had, was a gift from heaven. Hereby we see how God must be fain too increase his gifts more and more in us: and in that respect is our life termed a way, because we must always go on forwards, till our race be ended. And who soever imagineth any perfection in this world, is possessed of Satan, and utterly renounceth God grace. Yet notwithstanding let us not surmise that God changeth his purpose, (for he is not variable) or suffereth his grace too be chopped out in gobbets and cantles, at mens pleasures: but he hath appointed this order, that we should grow from day too day, and yet therewithal learn• to acknowledge soberly our wants, and too groan ⟨image 60⟩for them, and to mislike of them, & to hold our selves always in awe. Ye• see then that these two things agree very well: namely that the Ephesians had already received the spirit of Revelation, and yet that they needed to have it given them of God. For although there be but one spirit, yet are the gifts divers, and they be distributed to every of us in measure, and as it pleaseth him to give them. There is none but Jesus Christ which hath received them fully. He only is the fountain that can never be drained dry, it is he upon whom Gods spirit re•teth: to the end that we should all of us be made partakers of it. And for our own parts let us acknowledge, that the wizzest of us have need too be always scholars, and too learn still even to our dying day. Howbeit, by the way let us mark that this word Revelation condemneth us of all blindness. For we have our eyes open too discern between white and black: we see the Sun and the Moon, we see these worldly things, and are able to judge of them: