Sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the.X.Commandments of the Law, given of GodSermons of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the.X.Commandementes of the Lawe, geuen of God

For it is not for naught that he promiseth to teach and instruct such as are humble. Let us not then trust unto our own wit. Let us not come to the hearing of his word with such an haughtiness and presumption in us, as to think we are of sufficient capacity to judge of that which shall be said: but rather let us desire of God, that he will open our eyes, that he will reach us out his hand to lead us: and let us confess, that we are not of such dexterity of wit, to profit under him in his school, except he bestow it on us. When this humility shall be in us, doubt we not but the word of God shall be easy unto us, and that we shall know, and understand, whatsoever is therein delivered unto us. Hereby we see what misery and wretchedness hath been heretofore in the world, that the common people, and in a manner all, have foreslowed, and even withdrawn them selves from being taught by the holy scripture. For they thought this belonged only to the Monks and Priests. And in the end such a foolish and beastly opinion was conceived, that men thought all divinity ought to be cloistered in their dens and cabins. Now for all this, this testimony hath always remained, and must endure to the end of the world, that God hath spoken with a loud voice, that he hath not hid, or drawn him self back into some little angle and corner of the earth. So this hath been a most wicked unthankfulness in men, that they have left the word of God as clean cast off & forsaken of all. And so much the more heedfully ought we to note this place, wherein it is said, that God directed not his speech only to some great Doctors, but hath communicated his voice to the wheel people, even to the most simple & least among them. And withal let us, to whom God hath restored his world, praise & magnify him for so inestimable a benefit, whereof the greatest part of the world have deprived them selves by their own malice and reckless negligence. Let us, I say, praise and extol his goodness, that his word at this day ⟨image 99⟩soundeth in our ears, that we may read it, that all both privately and publicly may be partakers thereof, that this heavenly treasure is laid open unto us to use and to enjoy it. Behold an inestimable benefit, & above all, he bestoweth on us, for which we ought to magnify our God, as pricing this benefit above all the rest.

For it is not for naught that he promiseth to teach and instruct such as are humble. Let vs not then trust vnto our owne wit. Let vs not come to the hearing of his word with such an hautinesse and presumption in vs, as to thinke we are of sufficient capacitie to iudge of that which shalbe saide: but rather let vs desire of God, that he will open our eyes, that he will reach vs out his hande to leade vs: and let vs confesse, that wee are not of such dexteritie of wit, to profite vnder him in his schole, except he bestowe it on vs. When this humilitie shalbe in vs, doubt wee not but the woord of God shalbe easie vnto vs, and that wee shall knowe, and vnderstand, whatsoeuer is therein deliuered vnto vs. Hereby wee see what miserie and wretchednesse hath bene heretofore in the world, that the common people, and in a manner all, haue foreslowed, and euen withdrawen them selues from beeing taught by the holy scripture. For they thought this belonged only to the Monkes and Priestes. And in the end such a foolish and beastlie opinion was conceiued, that men thought all diuinitie ought to be cloistered in their dennes and cabins. Now for all this, this testimonie hath alwayes remained, and must endure to the end of the world, that God hath spoken with a lowde voice, that he hath not hid, or drawen him selfe backe into some little angle and corner of the earth. So this hath bene a most wicked vnthankfulnesse in men, that they haue left the word of God as clene cast off & forsaken of all. And so much the more heedfullie ought we to note this place, wherein it is said, that God directed not his speech only to some great Doctors, but hath communicated his voice to the whele people, euen to the most simple & least among them. And withall let vs, to whom God hath restored his world, praise & magnifie him for so inestimable a benefite, whereof the greatest part of the worlde haue depriued them selues by their owne malice and retchlesse negligence. Let vs, I say, praise and extoll his goodnesse, that his woorde at this daye