Divers sermons of Master John Calvin, concerning the divinity, humanity, and nativity of our…Diuers sermons of Master Iohn Caluin, concerning the diuinitie, humanitie, and natiuitie of our…

As for example, if our enemies persecute us, and we know not how God hath determined to deal with us, nor what will be our end, we are to beseech him, that as our life is dear unto him, and hath taken it to keep, that he would also show our deliverance by the effect. And when we are persuaded that God meaneth to call us unto him self, we must leave of all kind of questioning, and fully resolve our selves to obey his majesties unchangeable decree and ordinance. And thus we see the meaning of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he prayed all his life long, yea & before he entered into the mighty combat which he abode, he besought his heavenly Father, that if it were possible, that that cup might pas over him: But he by & by concluded, that since God his father had so ordained it, & say that he must discharge that charge which was committed unto him which was to offer up an everlasting sacrifice, to blot out y• sins of the world: & when he see him self to be called thereto, & that it was a resolute conclusion set down, the same I say was the very cause why ⟨image 45⟩he abstained from praying to God for the contrary And therefore he would not that either Angels or yet men should help him, nor yet to have God his father cause him to feel his power for his deliverance from death: but it sufficed him that he had this spirit of constancy, willingly to go to do his office. Lo here the full content and meaning hereof. We now see in the first place, that the will of GOD must so stay and bridle us, as that when we think things to be far unlike and against all reason, to esteem more of the ordinance of God, then of any thing that our fond and vain brain can comprehend. Wherefore we must throw our imaginations clean under the feet, when we perceive that God hath otherwise provided. And this is one piece of the obedience of our faith, when we think God to be so wise, as that he hath power & authority to do whatsoever pleaseth him. And although we can make reasons to the contrary, let us well understand that they are but smoke & vanity, & that God knoweth all things, & from whom no secretes are hid, yea and his will to be the rule of all wisdom and righteousness. And besides, whatsoever our mind saith to the contrary, it is by reason of our gross understanding, for we know that the wisdom of God is infinite, and scarcely have we three drams of wit.

As for example, if our enimies persecute vs, and we know not how God hath determined to deale wt vs, nor what wyll be our ende, we are to beséeche him, yt as our life is deare vnto him, and hath taken it to kéepe, that he would also shew our delyueraunce by the effect. And when we are persuaded that God meaneth to call vs vnto him selfe, we must leaue of all kinde of questining, and fully resolue our selues to obey his maiesties vnchangeable decrée and ordenaunce. And thus we sée the meaninge of our Lord Iesus Christ. For he prayed all his lyfe long, yea & before he entred into ye mighty combat which he abode, he besought his heauenly Father, yt if it were possible, yt that cup might pas ouer him: But hee by & by concluded, yt since God his father had so ordeyned it, & say yt he must discharge that charge which was cōmitted vnto him which was to offer vp an euerlastīg sacrifice, to blot out y sins of the world: & when he sée him selfe to be called thereto, & yt it was a resolute conclusiō set down, ye same I say was ye very cause why