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…

Hereupon a man might demand what S. Paul meant by the word World: for it should seem that out of the world they were not without God. Howbeit, that was too aggravate the matter so much the more, by saying that the Ephesians had enjoyed the light of the Sun, all the Elements had served them, & they had received so many commodities of Gods gift in all his creatures, and yet had not known him. For what else is the world but an open stage whereon God will have his majesty seen? Let us lift up our eyes: do not the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars, lead us too him that gave them the virtues which we perceive in them? For behold, the sun is far of from us, and yet he giveth us light. Again, he causeth the earth too bring forth fruits, also we see the double course that he keepeth: and although he wander now on the one side, and now on the other, yet notwithstanding he keepeth his compass continually, and never forgetteth how far he ought to go on the one side or on the other, as huge a mass as he is. If a Ball or a Boule were too be held up, it would need some help: but behold, the Sun hath nothing to hold it up, but the secret power of God: and yet notwithstanding he is so huge and infinite a mass, as exceedeth all the whole earth. Mount he up, or go he low, turn he, or return he, on the one side or on the other: yet keepeth he his course still every day through the whole world, & every year also on the contrary part, and yet for all this he misseth not in any of all those things. Too be short, when we behold the skies, we ought too be ravished with desire to go unto God. Again, when we behold the things that are nearer us, namely the variety of the good things that God bestoweth upon us: (we have cause too do the like.) Finally without going any further, let us but enter into our selves. If a man look but upon one of his fingers, what workmanship and what goodness of God is there? We then are in the world where ⟨image 104⟩God uttereth such abundance of miracles, whereby it is his meaning, too be known and worshipped: and yet notwithstanding we play the beasts, and go on like blockheads without any understanding, not knowing the God that made us and fashioned us, even him that uttereth and showeth himself in all his creatures both above and beneath.

Heruppon a man myght demaund what S. Paule ment by the woord VVorld: for it should seeme that out of the world they were not without God. Howbeeit, that was too aggrauate the matter so much the more, by saying that the Ephesians had inioyed the lyght of the Sunne, all the Elementes had serued them, & they had receyued so manie commodities of Gods gift in all his creatures, and yit had not knowen him. For what else is the world but an open stage wheron God will haue his maiestie seene? Let vs lift vp our eyes: doo not the Sunne, the Moone, and the Starres, leade vs too him that gaue them the vertewes which wee perceyue in them? For behold, the sonne is farre of from vs, and yit he giueth vs lyght. Agein, he causeth the earth too bring foorth frutes, also wee see the dubble course that he keepeth: and although he wander now on the one side, and now on the other, yit notwithstanding he keepeth his compas continually, and neuer fogetteth how farre he ought to go on the one side or on the other, as huge a masse as he is. If a Ball or a Boule were too bee hild vp, it woold neede some help: but behold, the Sunne hath nothing to hold it vp, but the secret power of God: and yit notwithstanding he is so huge and infinite a masse, as exceedeth all the whole earth. Mount he vp, or go he lowe, turne he, or returne he, on the one side or on the other: yit keepeth he his course stil euery day through the whole world, & euery yere also on the contrary part, and yit for all this he misseth not in any of all those thinges. Too bee short, when wee behold the skyes, wee ought too bee rauished with desyre to go vnto God. Agein, when we behold the thinges that are neerer vs, namely the varietie of the good things that God bestoweth vppon vs: (wee haue cause too doo the lyke.) Finally without going any further, let vs but enter intoo our selues. If a man looke but vppon one of his fyngers, what workmanship and what goodnesse of God is there? Wee then are in the worlde where