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, S. Paul speaking hereof in the fourth Chapter of the second too the Corinthians, sendeth us back too the Creation of the world, saying, that if we think it strange that God should enlighten blind wretches, and that such as were but wandering beasts afore, should be brought into the way of salvation by the doctrine of the Gospel: We should consider how the light was created at the beginning. What was there in the confused lump, whereof it is said, that God created the Heaven and the earth? There was neither beauty, nor order,¹ nor aught else▪ darkness covered all, as it is said in Moses. But God commanded that light should be made, and so he drew light out of darkness. Therefore (sayeth S. Paul) although the world was in irksome darkness, & that the Gentiles had their eyes as good as stopped up, so as there was not any knowledge of salvation at all: Yet God at the coming of his only son, showed how his promising by his Prophets that he would gather the world too him,² was not for naught. And so ye see, how he bringeth light out of darkness new again. Howsoever the case stand, we must always come back too this point, that the drawing of the Gentiles too the hope of salvation by the doctrine of the Gospel, was a secret of God. And he speaketh of the communicating thereof unto them, because God had kept it secret too himself, and therefore he addeth, that it had bin unknown in all times and all ages. And how so? For God kept it secret too himself.

Agein, S. Paule speaking hereof in the fourth Chapter of the second too the Corinthians, sendeth vs backe too the Creation of the world, saying, that if wee thinke it straunge that God should inlighten blynde wretches, and that such as were but wandring beasts afore, should bee brought intoo the way of saluation by the doctrine of the Gospell: Wee should consider how the light was created at the beginning. What was there in the confuzed lump, whereof it is sayd, that God created the Heauen and the earth? There was nother beautie, nor order,¹ nor aught else▪ darkenesse couered all, as it is sayd in Moyses. But God commaunded that light should bee made, and so he drewe light out of darkenesse. Therefore (sayeth S. Paule) although the world was in iksome darkenesse, & that the Gentiles had their eyes as good as stopt vp, so as there was not any knowledge of saluation at all: Yit God at the comming of his onely sonne, shewed how his promising by his Prophets that he would gather the world too him,