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…

And we be called light in the Lord, not only because we have the word of his Gospel, which is as a burning Cresset too guide us by: but also because that he himself is as the spiritual Daysonne, and doth therewithal enlighten us inwardly by Gods spirit. For we see by experience, that men fare never a whit the better by having their ears beaten with the doctrine of truth: for one may take pain too teach them, and yet it shall be but labour lost. Therefore our Lord must be fain too make his sun shine, that is too say, like as he hath commanded and ordained his word too be preached unto us: ⟨image 268⟩so also must he give us eyes too enjoy the same light. For though the sun shine never so bright in the sky, yet should we find neither fruit nor profit by it, unless we have eyes which are as instruments to receive the light that comes from above. So must God be fain too give us spiritual eyesight, to conceive the things that are taught us by his word. Ye see then that the mean how we become light in the Lord, is, that on the one side God showeth us the way of salvation by the preaching of his word unto us: and therewithal giveth us a new spirit, or mind, too the intent we should not abide in the ignorance wherein all of us are by nature.

And wee bee called lyght in the Lord, not onely bycause wee haue the woord of his Gospell, which is as a burning Cresset too guyde vs by: but also bycause that he himselfe is as the spirituall Daysonne, and dooth therewithall inlyghten vs inwardly by Gods spirit. For wee see by experience, that men fare neuer a whit the better by hauing their eares beaten with the doctrine of truth: for one may take payne too teache them, and yit it shalbee but labour lost. Therfore our Lord must bee fayne too make his sonne shyne, that is too saye, lyke as he hath commaunded and ordeyned his woord too bee preached vntoo vs: ⟨image 268⟩so also must he giue vs eyes too inioy the same lyght. For though the sunne shyne neuer so bright in the skye, yit should wee fynd nother frute nor profit by it, vnlesse wee haue eyes which are as instruments to receyue the lyght that commes from aboue. So must God bee fayne too giue vs spirituall eyesyght, to conceyue the things that are taught vs by his woord. Yee see then that the meane how wee become lyght in the Lord, is, that on the one syde God sheweth vs the way of saluation by the preaching of his woord vntoo vs: and therwithall giueth vs a new spirit, or mind, too the intent wee should not abyde in the ignorance wherin all of vs are by nature.