--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But it will be asked, why are they now…" description: "\"“But it will be asked, why are they now admonished of their duty, and not rather left to the guidance of the Spirit? Why are they urged with exhortatio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/john-calvin-490_parenting_but-it-will-be-asked-why-are-they-now-ad_89593.jpg" --- # But it will be asked, why are they now admonished of their… ![“But it will be asked, why are they now admonished of their duty, and not rather left to the guidance of the Spirit? Why are they urged with exhortations when they cannot hasten any faster than the Spirit impels them? and why are they chastised, if at any time they go astray, seeing that this is…” quote by John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/john-calvin-490_parenting_but-it-will-be-asked-why-are-they-now-ad_89593.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/john-calvin-490_parenting_but-it-will-be-asked-why-are-they-now-ad_89593.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/john-calvin-490_parenting_but-it-will-be-asked-why-are-they-now-ad_89593.jpg) > ““But it will be asked, why are they now admonished of their duty, and not rather left to the guidance of the Spirit? Why are they urged with exhortations when they cannot hasten any faster than the Spirit impels them? and why are they chastised, if at any time they go astray, seeing that this is caused by the necessary infirmity of the flesh? "O, man! who art thou that replies against God?" If, in order to prepare us for the grace which enables us to obey exhortation, God sees meet to employ exhortation, what is there in such an arrangement for you to carp and scoff at? Had exhortations and reprimands no other profit with the godly than to convince them of sin, they could not be deemed altogether useless. Now, when, by the Spirit of God acting within, they have the effect of inflaming their desire of good, of arousing them from lethargy, of destroying the pleasure and honeyed sweetness of sin, making it hateful and loathsome, who will presume to cavil at them as superfluous? Should any one wish a clearer reply, let him take the following: - God works in his elect in two ways: inwardly, by his Spirit; outwardly, by his Word. By his Spirit illuminating their minds, and training their hearts to the practice of righteousness, he makes them new creatures, while, by his Word, he stimulates them to long and seek for this renovation. In both, he exerts the might of his hand in proportion to the measure in which he dispenses them. The Word, when addressed to the reprobate, though not effectual for their amendment, has another use. It urges their consciences now, and will render them more inexcusable on the day of judgement. Thus, our Saviour, while declaring that none can come to him but those whom the Father draws, and that the elect come after they have heard and learned of the Father, (John 6: 44, 45), does not lay aside the office of teacher, but carefully invites those who must be taught inwardly by the Spirit before they can make any profit. The reprobate, again, are admonished by Paul, that the doctrine is not in vain; because, while it is in them a savour of death unto death, it is still a sweet savour unto God, (2Co 2: 16)”” [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. God works through both internal Spirit and external Word; exhortation and discipline serve to awaken conscience, even for those who ultimately reject salvation. **In simple terms:** Spiritual guidance uses both inner inspiration and external teaching. Key Takeaway Dual means of divine influence. Themes theology spiritual discipline human frailty divine sovereignty Mood serious didactic Type theological expository When to use this quote - Pastoral counseling - Biblical education - Personal moral reflection Key Concepts interaction of grace and law role of conscience Practical Applications - Balance exhortation with compassion - Recognize limits of external teaching Questions to Reflect On - Why might external instruction be ineffective for some? - How does inner conviction differ from external pressure? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Admonished Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admonished-paul-1117216/) [Day Of Judgement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day-of-judgement/) [Exhortation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exhortation/) [Exhortation God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exhortation-god-1117215/) [Obey Exhortation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obey-exhortation-1117217/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Spirit of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit-of-god/) [Urged Exhortations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urged-exhortations-1117218/) ## Related quotes > [Extension work is not exhortation. 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Norman Gardiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-norman-gardiner/) > [The platform God has given me is the platform of exhortation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-hunt/the-platform-god-has-given-me-is-the-platform-of-exhortation/) [Johnny Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-hunt/) > [More lives are influenced by emulation than exhortation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-hunt/more-lives-are-influenced-by-emulation-than-exhortation/) [Johnny Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-hunt/) > [I am convinced Pope Francis' Exhortation can help. 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I know that engagement with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-promotion-of-human-rights-cannot-be-about-exhortation-alone-at/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“A prophet is one who sees what is happening and being done in the present that they can tell us what will happen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mckenna/a-prophet-is-one-who-sees-what-is-happening-and-being-done-in-the/) [Megan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mckenna/) > [“ Play to your strengths. ” “I haven’t got any,” said Harry, before he could stop himself. “Excuse me,” growled Moody, “you’ve got strengths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/play-to-your-strengths-i-haven-t-got-any-said-harry-before-he-could/) [J.K. 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Why sir, onto the north we are bounded by the Aurora Borealis, on the east we are bounded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-boundaries-of-our-country-sir-why-sir-onto-the-north-we-are/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [IT IS TALKING ABOUT A HUSBAND AND A WIFE AND THEY ARE SAYING TO ONE ANOTHER THIS YOU HELPED ME IN THE WORLD AND…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria/it-is-talking-about-a-husband-and-a-wife-and-they-are-saying-to-one/) [Maria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria/) ## More by John Calvin > [I have never seen either a drop of piety or a grain of truth or ingenuousness - nay, I have never found common sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/i-have-never-seen-either-a-drop-of-piety-or-a-grain-of-truth-or/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [But a most pernicious error widely prevails that Scripture has only so much weight as is conceded to it by the consent of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/but-a-most-pernicious-error-widely-prevails-that-scripture-has-only/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [For earthly princes lay aside their power when they rise up against God, and are unworthy to be reckoned among the number of mankind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/for-earthly-princes-lay-aside-their-power-when-they-rise-up-against/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [It is no small honour that God for our sake has so magnificently adorned the world, in order that we may not only be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/it-is-no-small-honour-that-god-for-our-sake-has-so-magnificently/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [The word "hope" I take for faith; and indeed hope is nothing else but the constancy of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/the-word-hope-i-take-for-faith-and-indeed-hope-is-nothing-else-but/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [No man can come to God but by an extraordinary revelation of the Spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/no-man-can-come-to-god-but-by-an-extraordinary-revelation-of-the/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [There is nothing in afflictions which ought to disturb our joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/there-is-nothing-in-afflictions-which-ought-to-disturb-our-joy/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [There cannot be a surer rule, nor a stronger exhortation to the observance of it, than when we are taught that all the endowments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/there-cannot-be-a-surer-rule-nor-a-stronger-exhortation-to-the/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [The surest source of destruction to men is to obey themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/the-surest-source-of-destruction-to-men-is-to-obey-themselves/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [The whole gospel is contained in Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/the-whole-gospel-is-contained-in-christ/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [For Scripture is the school of the Holy Spirit, in which, as nothing is omitted that is both necessary and useful to know, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/for-scripture-is-the-school-of-the-holy-spirit-in-which-as-nothing-is/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [“For earthly princes lay aside their power when they rise up against God, and are unworthy to be reckoned among the number of mankind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/for-earthly-princes-lay-aside-their-power-when-they-rise-up-against-2/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [If a preacher is not first preaching to himself, better that he falls on the steps of the pulpit and breaks his neck than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/if-a-preacher-is-not-first-preaching-to-himself-better-that-he-falls/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Again I ask whence it happened that the fall of Adam involved, without remedy, in eternal death so many nations, together with their infant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/again-i-ask-whence-it-happened-that-the-fall-of-adam-involved-without/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Unless God's Word illumine the way, the whole life of men is wrapped in darkness and mist, so that they cannot but miserably stray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/unless-god-s-word-illumine-the-way-the-whole-life-of-men-is-wrapped/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) [Explore all 520 John Calvin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) ## More Exhortation quotes > [Extension work is not exhortation. 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Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“A prophet is one who sees what is happening and being done in the present that they can tell us what will happen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mckenna/a-prophet-is-one-who-sees-what-is-happening-and-being-done-in-the/) [Megan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mckenna/) > [The promotion of human rights cannot be about exhortation alone. At times, it must be coupled with painstaking diplomacy. 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The vitality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-norman-gardiner/the-significant-thing-about-edwards-is-the-way-he-enters-into-the/) [H. Norman Gardiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-norman-gardiner/) > [“Quick as birds to catch the bugs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowles/quick-as-birds-to-catch-the-bugs/) [David Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowles/) [Browse all 13 Exhortation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exhortation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But it will be asked, why are they now admonished of their duty, and not rather left to the guidance of the Spirit? Why are they urged with exhortations when they cannot hasten any faster than the Spirit impels them? and why are they chastised, if at any time they go astray, seeing that this is caused by the necessary infirmity of the flesh? \"O, man! who art thou that replies against God?\" If, in order to prepare us for the grace which enables us to obey exhortation, God sees meet to employ exhortation, what is there in such an arrangement for you to carp and scoff at? Had exhortations and reprimands no other profit with the godly than to convince them of sin, they could not be deemed altogether useless. Now, when, by the Spirit of God acting within, they have the effect of inflaming their desire of good, of arousing them from lethargy, of destroying the pleasure and honeyed sweetness of sin, making it hateful and loathsome, who will presume to cavil at them as superfluous? Should any one wish a clearer reply, let him take the following: - God works in his elect in two ways: inwardly, by his Spirit; outwardly, by his Word. By his Spirit illuminating their minds, and training their hearts to the practice of righteousness, he makes them new creatures, while, by his Word, he stimulates them to long and seek for this renovation. In both, he exerts the might of his hand in proportion to the measure in which he dispenses them. The Word, when addressed to the reprobate, though not effectual for their amendment, has another use. It urges their consciences now, and will render them more inexcusable on the day of judgement. Thus, our Saviour, while declaring that none can come to him but those whom the Father draws, and that the elect come after they have heard and learned of the Father, (John 6: 44, 45), does not lay aside the office of teacher, but carefully invites those who must be taught inwardly by the Spirit before they can make any profit. The reprobate, again, are admonished by Paul, that the doctrine is not in vain; because, while it is in them a savour of death unto death, it is still a sweet savour unto God, (2Co 2: 16)”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Calvin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/but-it-will-be-asked-why-are-they-now-admonished-of-their-duty-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Exhortation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/but-it-will-be-asked-why-are-they-now-admonished-of-their-duty-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/john-calvin-490_parenting_but-it-will-be-asked-why-are-they-now-ad_89593.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/john-calvin-490_parenting_but-it-will-be-asked-why-are-they-now-ad_89593.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/john-calvin-490_parenting_but-it-will-be-asked-why-are-they-now-ad_89593.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But it will be asked, why are they now admonished of their duty, and not rather left to the guidance of the…” — John Calvin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Calvin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“But it will be asked, why...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/but-it-will-be-asked-why-are-they-now-admonished-of-their-duty-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/but-it-will-be-asked-why-are-they-now-admonished-of-their-duty-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```