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…

The other vice is, that in reading the holy scripture, we still imagine too come too the knowledge of the things that are contained there, by our own discretion. But here both twain of them are excluded by S. Paul. For when as he desireth God too give his faithful ones the spirit of wisdom, he showeth that they have no discretion, no more than brute beasts, except it be by the guiding of our Lord Jesus Christ, of purpose too come too the kingdom of heaven. For even in civill matters and worldly affairs, God giveth it not too any, but too such as he thinketh good. Now if he keep his special goodness always too himself, too give discretion too whom he listeth, too guide himself withal in these base things of the world: then doth he make the unbelievers too be well sighted: and therefore when the case concerneth the heavenly life, there is no preparation in us. And so S. Paul presupposeth the thing which I have said already, namely, that we must be taught at Gods hand, too know him by the doctrine of truth through the record of the Gospel, for without that, we should be like these fantastical fellows, which rove under the pretence of having the revelation of Gods holy spirit: howbeit, that is not after the manner that S. Paul taketh the word Revelation, when he prayeth God too give it too his children. As for example, when Jesus Christ speaketh of his spirit, he doth not separate it from the doctrine that he had preached. When the spirit cometh (sayeth he) he shall tell you all truth.¹ And how is that? Had not the Apostles received it already? Yes: but he addeth, he shall show you the things that you hear now of my mouth. Too be short, it is the peculiar office of the holy Ghost to teach us in such wise, as the word which we hear, may therewithal have his course & place, and as we may profit in the same.

The other vyce is, that in reading the holy scripture, wee still imagin too come too the knowledge of the things that are conteyned there, by our owne discretion. But heere both twayne of them are excluded by S. Paule. For when as he desyreth God too giue his faythfull ones the spirit of wisdome, he sheweth that they haue no discretion, no more than brute beastes, except it bee by the guyding of our Lord Iesus Christ, of purpose too come too the kingdome of heauen. For euen in ciuill matters and worldly affayres, God giueth it not too any, but too such as he thinketh good. Now if he keepe his speciall goodnesse alwayes too himselfe, too giue discretion too whom he listeth, too guyde himselfe withall in these bace things of the world: then dooth he make the vnbeleeuers too bee well syghted: and therefore when the cace concerneth the heauenly lyfe, there is no preparation in vs. And so S. Paule presuppozeth the thing which I haue sayd already, namely, that wee must bee taught at Gods hand, too know him by the doctrine of truth through the record of the Gospell, for without that, wee shoulde bee lyke these fantasticall fellowes, which roue vnder the pretence of hauing the reuelation of Gods holy spirit: howbeeit, that is not after the maner that S. Paule taketh the word Reuelation, when he prayeth God too giue it too his children. As for example, when Iesus Christ speaketh of his spirit, he doth not separate it from the doctrine that he had preached. When the spirit commeth (sayeth he) he shall tell you all truth.