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…

As if he should have said, that God hath so communicated his word unto us, and in such sort framed and wrought it for our understanding, as that there is not the most simple & ignorant which shall not find himself capable to be the scholar of God, yea so that we come unto it in all lowliness and humbleness. For David in saying that the word of God maketh the lowly to understand, right well showeth, that if we come unto it in the pride of our own minds, presuming of our own fine heads, as in this point a great nun ber of proud and glorious men do, who will rather control God then submit them selves unto him & to his word: no doubt of it we shall be left in the dark. For let us not be abashed although such people of whom I have already spoken, do continually remain most blockish. But we for our parts ought to know, that we must be humbled & thrown down in ourselves, to the end god might lighten us. And then let us not doubt but that we shall feel God to be ever more ready to play the part of a good schoolmaster unto us, when ⟨p. 140⟩as we shall show our selves to be true and dutiful scholars. Now by and by followeth, I opened my mouth and panted: he was scarcely able to fetch his breath. And by this is signified the fervent zeal which he had, which was to be well instructed in the law of God. Now here David showeth, how it is that we should be enlightened, that is, that after we are known to be lowly and humbled, feeling our want and necessity, let us sigh & groan unto the majesty of our God, in beseeching him to instruct us. For we shall not need to be greatly learned for our right and perfect walking, if we truly and earnestly desire to be his scholars, & to prefer his word before all other things. David might very well say, O Lord, I have desired to understand that which thou hast showed me by thy law, and yet contented not he him self with this only saying: But saith namely, that he opened his mouth, as a forepined ghost, who was no longer able to abide it. And afterward he sayeth that he drew in his breath, that he was so zealous, as that it took away as it were his very speech from him. There is no doubt that David meant here the very single affection wherewith he was touched: not for any desire he had to commend him self, but to show unto us by his example what our office & duty is towards God:

As if he should haue said, that God hath so communicated his word vnto vs, and in such sort framed and wrought it for our vnderstanding, as that there is not the most simple & ignorant which shal not find himselfe capable to bee the scholler of God, yea so that we come vnto it in all lowlinesse and humblenesse. For Dauid in saying that the word of God maketh the lowly to vnderstand, right wel sheweth, that if we come vnto it in the pride of our own minds, presuming of our own fine heads, as in this point a great nū ber of proud and glorious men doe, who wil rather cōtroll God then submit them selues vnto him & to his word: no doubt of it wee shalbee left in the darke. For let vs not bee abashed although such people of whome I haue already spoken, do continually remaine most blockish. But wee for our partes ought to know, that we must be hūbled & throwne down in ourselues, to thend god might lightē vs. And then let vs not dout but that we shal feele God to be euer more ready to play the part of a good schoolemaster vnto vs, whē