“Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us, they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you, with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven,” (1 Pet. 1: 12). Not that the prophetical doctrine was useless to the ancient people, or unavailing to the prophets themselves, but that they did not obtain possession of the treasure which God has transmitted to us by their hands. The grace of which they testified is now set familiarly before our eyes. They had only a slight foretaste; to us is given a fuller fruition. Our Saviour, accordingly, while he declares that Moses testified of him, extols the superior measure of grace bestowed upon us (John 5: 46). Addressing his disciples, he says, “Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them, and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them,” (Mt. 13: 16; Luke 10: 23). It is no small commendation of the gospel revelation, that God has preferred us to holy men of old, so much distinguished for piety.
~John Calvin~
The Institutes of the Christian Religion Vol. 2 (Louisville, Kentucky; Westminster John Knox Press; 1974) Book 2: Knowledge of God the Redeemer; Chapter 9: Christ, Though Known to the Jews Under the Law, Yet Only Manifested Under the Gospel
Books by John Calvin
Biography of John Calvin
Online Books Available
Other Calvin Quotes
Tags: Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin
The Old Guys 