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…

We have seen this morning, how God having respect of our frailty, hath vouchsafed too use this mean too draw us too him: that is, that we should be taught familiarly by mortal men like our selves, and therein he showeth also that he had an eye too the thing that might be fittest for his servants. For in saying that he will always send a Prophet in Israel from among the people,¹ he meant too show that we needed not too seek far for him, but that he would find a mean too be familiarly conversant among us Therefore when the Gospel is preached among us, Gods applying of himself after that manner too our slenderness, is as much as if he came down too us himself. So little then ought we too disdain the order that he hath set among us, that our unthankfulness shall be the more heinous, if we consider not how greatly he loveth us, in that he dealeth with us after our own small capacity. For inasmuch as we have not so excellent ability as the Angels: therefore doth he give us such means as he knoweth too be necessary for us. Moreover Saint Paul addeth now, that this must not serve us for a little time only, but that we must continue in it all the time of our life. For had he not added yet further, the thing that we see: a man might say, that we ought in deed to conform our selves to the rule that God giveth us, howbeit that must be but for a while, as if a man should send little children to school, but that is not to spend their whole life there. And so it would have seemed, that the thing which hath bin spoken heretofore, served but for a time, and that when we have bin trained in them a year or twain, that ought too suffice us, and every man should be a Clerk well enough learned, so as he might forbear all instruction afterward. But Saint Paul telleth us, that so long as we be in this world, we must still profit in Gods school, and have our ears beaten daily with his word, that we may on the one side be bridled, and on the other side be strengthened and set forward more and more. For put the case we were of so good ability and capacity, as too learn all that is for our behoof, within two or three years space: yet are we so fickle headed, that every of us would by and by be starting out of the way, if we were not held back.

WEe haue seene this morning, how God hauing respect of our frayltie, hath voutsafed too vse this meane too drawe vs too him: that is, that wee should be taught familiarly by mortal men lyke our selues, and therin he sheweth also that he had an eye too the thing that myght bee fittest for his seruants. For in saying that he will alwayes send a Prophet in Israell from among the people,