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…

Like as I said this morning, that all Gods works in general, deserve well too be reverenced at our hands, because God hath printed in them some marks of his infinite goodness, Justice, power, and wisdom. So also there are some works more wonderful than the rest, and worthy too be advanced above the common rate, forsomuch as God oftentimes worketh after such a sort, that men (even whether they will or no) are enforced to be abashed and astonished at them. Of this sort is the doctrine (of the Bible.) For all that ever is contained in the Law and the Gospel, is a wisdom which it behoveth us too worship, because that without that, we should never understand any thing, insomuch that it is said, that God will be the teacher of the little and humble ones.¹ Yet notwithstanding some part of the things that are showed us in the scripture, may well be understood even of the rudest and ignorantest sort. Again, there are there higher or deeper matters. And those are they which S. Paul meaneth now, by calling the preaching of the Gospel a Mystery or secret, in comparison of all the rest. For albeit that God had evermore determined in himself too call the whole world too salvation: yet he kept the execution ⟨image 142⟩of his purpose secret too himself, till the coming of ou• Lord Jesus Christ: & when it was doo•e, the newness of i• seemed strange. That therefore is the thing that we have too consider, when S. Paul saith, that he was appointed an Apostle, too communicate the secret that had bin hyd••n before in God. And by those words he doeth us too understand, that although too mans sight the publishing of the Gospel was a new and unwonted thing: yet God did nothing upon the sudden nor in hast, but only showed then by effect, the thing that he had already determined and purposed upon afore, even from the creation of the world.

LIke as I sayd this morning, that all Gods woorkes in generall, deserue well too bee reuerenced at our handes, bycause God hath printed in them some markes of his infinite goodnesse, Iustice, power, and wisdome. So also there are some woorkes more woonderfull than the rest, and woorthie too bee aduaunced aboue the common rate, forsomuch as God oftentymes woorketh after such a sort, that men (euen whether they wil or no) are inforced to bee abashed and astonished at them. Of this sort is the doctrine (of the Byble.) For all that euer is conteyned in the Lawe and the Gospell, is a wisdome which it behoueth vs too worship, bycause that without that, wee should neuer vnderstande any thing, insomuch that it is sayde, that God will bee the teacher of the little and humble ones.