Two and twenty sermons of Master John Calvin In which sermons is most religiously…Two and twentie sermons of Maister Iohn Caluin In which sermons is most religiously…

Lo here a place right worthy to be noted and imprinted in our memories. For we see how men extol and magnify them selves, when they have attained too any knowledge, to get them selves credit and estimation. For if a man be eloquent, and can speak gallantly, and write excellently, or that he hath some other especial science or knowledge, he thinketh him self a marvellous man, & able to catch the Moon with his teeth, as we say. Seeing then it is so, that men are so rash and headstrong, that they persuade themselves to be wonderful men, if they have once gotten never so little knowledge in humanity, which passeth no farther then the outward elements of the world: by this we are so much the more too be admonished, too esteem this heavenly knowledge which is contained in the holy Scripture, which we can never be able to attain unto without it please God to instruct us: to the end that in the first place, none of us all should be proud of our good wits, ne yet of our other excellent aides, nor too be haughty in that we have greatly profited at School, have understood all the liberal sciences, and to be men of great experience. When then a man shall be the most perfect in science, and knowledge, that it is possibly to be imagined, yet ought we to learn to humble our selves, and to cast all our pride clean under foot that the worldly knowledge which God hath given unto us to serve him, be subject unto his word. Shall we find a man that shall be most eloquent, most cunning and most excelling in every condition all others? That man I say, ought to do homage unto God for that which he hath received from him knowing that no worldly science or knowledge ought to shadow or darken him who far surpasseth the same, because the Heavens are far above the earth. In very deed both two proceed from the mere goodness of God. But to this point must ⟨image 117⟩it be brought, That whatsoever he be that shall attain to the true and heavenly light, must say, I am nothing O Lord: For all that which thou hast given me cometh also from thee, receive thou then the same as the most special thing above the rest. And since thou haste showed me that grace and favour to be instructed by thy word, work so in me I beseech thee, that all the rest yield such honour and homage as appertained to this wonderful knowledge which I have learned in thy school.

Loe heere a place right worthy to be noted and imprinted in our memoryes. For we see how men extoll and magnifie them selues, when they haue attayned too any knowledge, to get them selues credite and estimation. For if a man be eloquent, and can speake gallantly, and write excellently, or that hee hath some other especiall science or knowledge, he thinketh him selfe a meruelous man, & able to catch the Moone with his teeth, as we say. Seeing then it is so, that men are so rash and hedstrong, that they persuade themselues to be woonderfull men, if they haue once gotten neuer so little knowledge in humanitie, whiche passeth no farther then the outwarde elementes of the worlde: by this wee are so much the more too be admonished, too esteeme this heauenly knowledge which is cōtayned in the holy Scripture, which we can neuer be able to attaine vnto without it please God to instruct vs: to the ende that in the firste place, none of vs all shoulde bee proude of our good wittes, ne yet of our other excellent aydes, nor too be hautie in that wee haue greatly profited at Schole, haue vnderstood all the liberal sciences, and to be men of greate experience. When then a man shall be the moste perfect in science, and knowledge, that it is posibly to be imagined, yet ought we to learne to humble our selues, and to cast all our pride cleane vnder fote that the worldly knowledge which God hath giuen vnto vs to serue him, bee subiect vnto his worde. Shall we finde a man that shall be moste eloquent, most cunning and most excelling in euery condition all others? That man I say, ought to doe homage vnto God for that which he hath receiued frō him knowing that no worldly science or knowledge ought to shadowe or darken him who farre surpasseth the same, because the Heauens are farre aboue the earth. In very deede both two proceed from the meere goodnesse of God. But to this point must