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…

Ye see then that the mean too put this doctrine of Saint Pauls in ure, is first too humble our selves in such wise, as no man take more upon him through vain self-weening, than belongs unto him, but that we will keep on our way advisedly, assuring our selves that we be not yet come too our ways end. And that is the cause also why Saint Paul said,¹ that he looked not back to the things he had done already, but forward unto the things that remained. Saint Paul had made a great journey, and taken much pain for the Gospels sake: he had bin taken up afore into the third heaven:² and there he had heard and seen secret things, which it was not lawful for him to speak of among men. Ye see then, that he was as a man that had bin taught in the school of Angels: and as in respect of men, he had passed all the other Apostles: and yet for all this, he sayeth he straineth himself forward, and laboureth too attain too the mark whereat he aimed. Now if Saint Paul spake so: what ought we too do, which are yet as it were but at our Apcie? Then as concerning this full ripeness of age, let us assure our selves that we cannot forbear new and daily instruction, until we be quite rid of all the infirmities of our flesh. Until we be departed out of this world, we must suffer our selves too be guided and governed like teachable and meek young folk, and we must believe good counsel, assuring our selves that we have need of it. Therefore Saint Paul attributeth that (full ripeness of age) too our Lord Jesus Christ, as if he should say, that men beguile themselves through their own fond rashness, by beholding themselves in them selves.³ For know we once what Jesus Christ is, we shall perceive full well, that there are yet many imperfections in us. He is called the wisdom of God his father, he is called his everlasting word,⁴ he is called his image. And all this is too the end that we should learn of him, and behold Gods glory in his person, which otherwise were invisible unto us. But now, can we comprehend Gods infinite wisdom? Can we attain too the understanding of Gods glory,⁵ so as we may have the full sight of it? Alas we be far short of it.