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…

So then it is not without cause, that S. Paul speaking here of so high and great a secret, saith, it was unknown too the Patriarchs and Prophets. They had in deed some inkling of it: howbeit, that was but according too their measure, and under shadows and figures. There was not then any certain knowledge, till God had uttered the thing in effect, which he had kept in his own determination. And soothly S. Paul thought it good too repeat the word Mystery, or Secrete, too the intent that one of us should not provoke another too be wilful in opinion, as we be wont too be. For if a thing be hard, one will say, this passes mine understanding, and another makes none account at all of it. And by that means men turn away from obeying God, and cast as it were a stumbling block in folks ways, so as their way and passage is stopped up, and none comes near Gods truth, which would be evident enough, so men would give ear unto it. But we be forepossessed with this opinion, that it is too high and profound a matter, and thereupon it seems too us that God speaks it not for us. And that is a cause which maketh us too hold scorn of his word, & to let it alone as a thing that belongs not at all unto us: yea and the boldness and lewdness of men is such, that they condemn all things that mislike them. Here S. Paul too amend that fault, saith, that the thing which is unknown to us, is nevertheless full of Majesty before God. For shall we take upon us to measure Gods secrets by our imagination? What a presumptuousness were that?¹ It is said, that his judgements and doings are so deep a gulf, as is able too swallow us up a hundred thousand times. Therefore let us learn so to magnify Gods wisdom, as though his meaning be darksome unto us, yi• we may not therefore shake it of, but honour it with all humility. Truly even the things tha• seem most common, ought too be •eceyued in such wise of us, as too understand that God giveth us but a taste of them, and that we have not the perfect knowledge of them: I mean the whole doctrine of the Gospel. There is not any point there which seemeth to be of so small importance, which passeth not all our understanding.

So then it is not without cause, that S. Paule speakyng heere of so high and great a secret, saith, it was vnknowen too the Patriarkes and Prophetes. They had in deede some incklyng of it: howebeit, that was but accordyng too theyr measure, and vnder shadowes and figures. There was not then any certayne knowledge, tyll God had vttered the thing in effect, which he had kept in his owne determination. And soothly S. Paule thought it good too repeate the woord Mysterie, or Secrete, too the intent that one of vs should not prouoke another too bee wylful in opinion, as we bee woont too bee. For if a thing bee hard, one wyll say, this passes myne vnderstandyng, and another makes none account at all of it. And by that meanes men turne away from obeying God, and cast as it were a stumbling blocke in folkes wayes, so as their way and passage is stopped vp, and none comes neere Gods truth, which would be euident ynough, so men woulde giue eare vntoo it. But wee bee forepossessed with this opinion, that it is too hygh and profound a matter, and theruppon it seemes too vs that God speakes it not for vs. And that is a cause which maketh vs too hold scorne of his woord, & to let it alone as a thing that belongs not at all vntoo vs: yea and the boldnesse and lewdnesse of men is such, that they condemne all things that mislike them. Here S. Paule too amend that fault, sayth, that the thing which is vnknowen to vs, is neuerthelesse full of Maiestie before God. For shall wee take vppon vs to measure Gods secrets by our imagination? What a presumptuousnesse were that?