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…

Saint Paul could well have said singly, that we must walk as ⟨p. 267⟩folk well advised. But he addeth also on the contrary part, that we should not be fools and unwise, to the end to show that it is but a mockery when men say, I am letted by other folks▪ I have not the means too follow my book, that I might do good at it, or I am a poor simple soul, or a […] ▪ or a handicrafts man. Therefore too cut of this gear, S. Paul telleth, us that although they which ween themselves too be wizzest, are but fools▪ yet notwithstanding God will remedy such as suffer themselu•• too be governed by his word. Howbeit let us mark (as I said afore) that it is not for men too advance themselves, or too be so proud as too think that they can govern themselves as they ought too do: for the beginning of our wisdom is too be fools in our selves,¹ as hath bin showed in the first too the Corinthians. But on the one side there is presumptuousness, so that very few can humble themselves in such wise, as not too be still plucked back and hindered by their own opinions: and (on the other side) othersome are so reckless, that although they have their ears daily beaten with Gods word, yet they continue dull still for all that can be done. So much the more behoveth it us too mark well the warning that is given us here: which is, that too be well taught in Gods school, we must not bring any whit of our own reason, neither must we think our own devices good, but we must be fools in our selves, that is too say, boyde of our own reason, and we must give place and open way too Gods word, so as we accept without any gainsaying whatsoever is uttered by his mouth.

Saint Paule could well haue sayd singly, that wee must walke as ⟨p. 267⟩folke well aduyzed. But he addeth also on the contrary part, that vvee should not bee fooles and vnvvyze, to the end to shew that it is but a mockerie when men say, I am letted by other folkes▪ I haue not the meanes too followe my booke, that I myght doo good at it, or I am a poore simple soule, or a or a handicrftes man. Therfore too cut of this geere, S. Paule tellth, vs that although they which weene themselues too bee wyzest, are but fooles yit notwithstanding God will remedie such as suffer themselu too bee gouerned by his woord. Howbeeit let vs marke (as I sayd afore) that it is not for men too aduaunce themselues, or too bee so proud as too thinke that they can gouerne themselues as they ought too doo: for the beginning of our wisedome is too be fooles in our selues,