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…

Again, forasmuch as he hath given us a record of his majesty in the holy scripture: it becometh us too hold our selves short thereunto, and not too covet too know any thing which is not showed us there. What must then be our lodestar too know God by? Too suffer our selves too be taught by his word, and too be so discreet, as to receive whatsoever is contained there, without gainsaying, and not too presume to add any thing at all thereto. And we ought so much the more to have that care,¹ sith we know how S. John avoweth, that he which hath not the son, hath not the father. Then like as I have told you, that because God revealeth himself in this word, it behoveth us too seek him there: so also forasmuch as our Lord Jesus Christ is his lively image, let us not enter into over high speculations, to know what God is: but let us repair too Jesus Christ, acknowledging that it is his office too bring us too God his father, and that it is he by whom we must be guided, and so shall we be sure that we shall not be without God in this world. Now if they that take so much pain, and trot up and down too serve God, be condemned here too be without God, because they have not held the true rule, but have bin beguiled in their superstitions: what shall become of the dogs and swine that have no awe at all of God, specially sith they bereave themselves of all knowledge, and degenerate into beasts, after they have had some understanding of the truth, by having their ears beaten with the holy Scripture: Of which sort we see a great number now adays, who too take the advantage of the time, and too make good cheer at their pleasure, could find in their hearts too quench, or too darken the light that God had caused too shine upon them, yea even too the utter defying of Gods majesty, as though there were no more instruction at all. We see how this cursed •eede is dispersed abroad at this day through all the whole world. But (as I said afore) if the poor ignorant sort, which never had any certain way, but have bin as blind wretches wandering here and there too seek God, and yet he hath not s•ewed himself unto them, have none excuse at all, but are condemned at Gods hand, because they had not a true root:

Agein, for asmuch as he hath giuen vs a record of his maiestie in the holy scripture: it becommeth vs too hold our selues short therunto, and not too couet too knowe any thing which is not shewed vs there. What must then bee our lodestarre too knowe God by? Too suffer our selues too bee taught by his woord, and too bee so discret, as to receyue whatsoeuer is conteyned there, without geynsaying, and not too presume to adde any thing at all thertoo. And wee ought so much the more to haue that care,