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…

The light then which the Scripture allotteth, as well too the teachers, as too them that are taught, is, that all of us must have Gods word, which must be as a candle set up aloft, and our lives must so ruled thereby, as the unbelievers may be drawn too the faith and reformed, or else confounded and put too shame, when they see that our Lords calling of us too profit in his school is not in vain. And so ye see in what sense S. Paul sayeth, that we be light in the Lord, namely because Gods word ought too be as a burning Lamp unto us, not ⟨image 269⟩only too guide our selves by, but also too show the way too all such as otherwise should go astray.

The lyght then which the Scripture allotteth, as well too the teachers, as too them that are taught, is, that all of vs must haue Gods woord, which must bee as a candle set vp aloft, and our lyues must so ruled thereby, as the vnbeeleeuers may bee drawen too the fayth and reformed, or else confounded and put too shame, when they see that our Lordes calling of vs too profit in his scoole is not in vayne. And so yee see in what sense S. Paule sayeth, that wee bee lyght in the Lord, namely bycause Gods woord ought too bee as a burning Lampe vntoo vs, not ⟨image 269⟩only too guyde our selues by, but also too shewe the way too all such as otherwyse should go astray.

Hereunto he addeth, that we be children of light, to do us to understand, that our light cometh from elsewhere than of our selves, and that we borrow it of him that is the light of the world,¹ as I have alleged before. According whereunto it is said, that God is the father of light, and so also doth the Scripture name him. Again, our Lord Jesus Christ is the true light,² whereby God appeared unto us, and whereby it is his will too enlighten us. Therefore are we the children of light: that is too say, we be so enlightened, that Gods light is in us: namely because we be members of our Lord Jesus Christ (as I said afore) and communicate with him, and he guideth us by the light of his Gospel, and enlighteneth us also by his holy spirit. And forasmuch as our Lord worketh in us by faith, he drippeth it into us by measure, as he himself thinketh good, as we have seen in the fourth Chapter. Howsoever the case stand, let us esteem Gods grace as it is worthy, and as it deserveth, and thereupon turn it too our own benefit, that it be not disappointed through our recklessness, but that we may walk, that is too say, consider whereto God hath called us, and every of us employ and enforce himself thereunto.