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…

Alas will one say, I am a very ignorant soul, or, I am not so sharp witted as in deed a man would judge: or else, I am but a simple scholar, and therefore can not conceive of so high mysteries, Lo here what excuses a number of men ⟨p. 139⟩will make, because they would not be acquainted with the word of God. No doubt of it we shall have of those people which will use such excuses and starting holes, only because they would be ignorant, and have their eyes fast closed up, although they have the light of God too shine upon them. Again there are another sort which will keep them selves clean away from the word of God, fearing that if they should once enter into it, that it would be like unto a maze wherein they should be held fast in and so be utterly confounded. And therefore, let us for this cause throughly consider the saying of David: to wit, that although we attain not unto such a perfection, as that we are able to understand and know whatsoever is written in the holy scriptures, and to be so exercised therein even at the full, as that nothing hath escaped us: but let us be throughly acquainted with the law, and have the very true and undoubted exposition and meaning of the Prophets, yea and let us know and understand the Gospel at our fingers ends: and yet although, I say we have not attained unto this excellency, let us not for all this cease to be enlightened. Let us then boldly approach, when as we see that God calleth and allureth us, and is ready to teach us his word: and let us know that when we shall have never so little a taste thereof, that it shall be for our salvation, so that we shall not be altogether blind, but that we may be able to know which is the right way unto everlasting life. To be short, we shall be enlightened as David speaketh of in this place. And hereby we may see, what a great abuse at this day reigneth in this point in Popery, when as they shall put by the greater part of Christendom from the reading of the holy scripture under a colour, it should thereby be utterly confounded: and again being never able once to come to have any taste thereof, that it is over high a thing for them to meddle with. Now, this is to make the holy Ghost a manifest liar, who hath spoken & pronounced by the mouth of David, that which we have already heard, That the first entrance into the word of God showeth light:

Alas will one say, I am a very ignoraunt soule, or, I am not so sharpe witted as in deede a man would iudge: or els, I am but a simple scholler, and therefore can not conceiue of so high mysteries, Lo here what excuses a number of men