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…

Sithens then it is so that David, who was an excellent Prophet, did know, that he could neither by reading nor preaching understand that which was requisite unto salvation: what shall become of us, which are yet far from that forwardness that was in him? And let us not think that through our own labour and industry, and by our own sharpness of wit, to come so far as to understand the secretes of God, but let us know that we had need to be enlightened with the grace of his holy spirit, to open our eyes, for without it we are poor blind souls. Now if this were well understood, we should never see such a pride amongst us as is, that every of us is wise enough too govern himself. It is an easy matter for us to make protestation that God hath given us his word: and yet for all that we shall still be blind, and know nothing, until such time as he openeth our hearts and minds. For when nothing else shall govern us but our own sense and natural reason, what beasts and Calves shall we then be? See then how we shall be better instructed in humility, when as the doctrine shall be imprinted in our hearts. True it is, that this was not spoken in vain, but to the end, that we should be admonished after the example of David, too present our selves before God: and in confessing our selves that we are not capable to understand any thing, without that he put to his helping hand, let us beseech him too open our eyes by his holy spirit. And because it should not seem strange, that David desired to have his eyes open, he declareth, that the wisdom contained in the law of God, is too high for our capacities, yea although we think our selves to have never so sharp and fine wits. And therefore he sayeth, O Lord open mine eyes: that I may see the wondrous things of thy Law. Wherefore useth he this word wondrous. It is, as if he would have save said: Although ⟨p. 21⟩the world taketh the law of God to be but a light thing, and seemeth to be given but as it were for simple souls, & young children: Yet for all that there seemeth such a wisdom to be in it, as that it surmounteth all the wisdom of the world, and that therein lye hid wonderful secrets.

Sithens then it is so that Dauid, who was an excellente Prophet, did knowe, that hee could neither by reading nor preaching vnderstand that which was requisite vnto saluation: what shall become of vs, which are yet farre from that forwardnesse that was in him? And let vs not thinke that through our owne labour and industrie, and by our owne sharpnesse of wit, to come so farre as to vnderstande the secretes of God, but let vs knowe that wee had neede to be inlightned with the grace of his holy spirit, to open our eyes, for without it we are poore blinde soules. Nowe if this were wel vnderstood, we should neuer see such a pride amongst vs as is, that euery of vs is wise inough too gouerne himselfe. It is an easy matter for vs to make protestation that God hath giuen vs his word: and yet for all that we shall still be blinde, and knowe nothing, vntill such time as he openeth our heartes and mindes. For when nothing else shal gouerne vs but our own sense and naturall reason, what beastes and Calues shall wee then bee? See then how we shall be better instructed in humilitie, when as the doctrine shalbe imprinted in our heartes. True it is, that this was not spoken in vaine, but to the end, that we shoulde be admonished after the example of Dauid, too present oure selues before God: and in confessing our selues that we are not capable to vnderstande any thing, without that he put to his helping hand, let vs beseeche him too open our eyes by his holy spirit. And bicause it should not seeme straunge, that Dauid desired to haue his eyes open, he declareth, that the wisdom conteined in the lawe of God, is too high for our capacities, yea although we think oure selues to haue neuer so sharpe and fine wittes. And therefore hee sayeth, O Lorde open myne eyes: that I may see the woonderous thinges of thy Lawe. Wherefore vseth hee this woorde woonderous. It is, as if he would haue saue saide: Although