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…

Moreover, let it be that we had all the pleasures in the world, and that by the mean of the Son of God, we were here as in a Paradise, yet should our life be but a shadow, and our felicity very short, and transitory. And therefore, we ought very well to know, and be fully persuaded, that the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ is heavenly, that we might bend our selves to the everlasting life, whereunto we are called. Thus we see, that the kingdom of Jesus Christ is everlasting, because it consisteth not of any thing in this corrupt world. Let us therefore patiently bear all our adversities, considering, it neither diminisheth nor lesseneth the grace which our Lord Jesus Christ hath obtained for us: for they are even so many helps to our salvation, as Paul witnesseth.¹ And when the world shall despise and mock us, & we suffer many slanders, abide hunger, and thirst, draw our legs after us, and be harried on every side, yet must we have this consideration, that God accepteth of us. And this is, as if he chocked us by the thin, and said, Look up a soft, and set not your minds upon these worldly matters. This then is the sum which we are here to observe. And to say the trueth, it is not without cause that our Lord Jesus spake so confidently, that he was borne and came into the world to say the trueth: and that whosoever would have any good taste, should stay him self upon his word. By this we see, that this is a doctrine of great weight • to understand that the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ is not here on earth.

Moreouer, let it bée that wée had all the pleasures in the world, and that by the meane of the Sonne of God, wée were héere as in a Paradise, yet shoulde our life bée but a shadowe, and our felicitie verie short, and transitorie. And therefore, we ought verie well to knowe, and be fully persuaded, that the kingdome of our Lorde Iesus Christ is heauenly, that wée might bende our selues to the euerlasting life, wherevnto wée are called. Thus we sée, that the kingdome of Iesus Christ is euerlasting, because it consisteth not of any thing in this corrupt worlde. Let vs therefore patiently beare all our aduersities, considering, it neither diminisheth nor lesseneth the grace which our Lorde Iesus Christ hath obteined for vs: for they are euē so many helps to our saluation, as Paule witnesseth.¹ And when the worlde shall despise and mocke vs, & we suffer many slanders, abide hunger, and thirst, drawe our legges after vs, and be harried on euerie side, yet must we haue this consideration, that God accepteth of vs. And this is, as if hée chocked vs by the thinne, and saide, Looke vp a soft, and set not your mindes vpon these worldly matters. This then is the summe which wée are héere to obserue. And to say the trueth, it is not without cause that our Lorde Iesus spake so confidently, that hée was borne and came into the worlde to say the trueth: and that whosoeuer woulde haue any good taste, shoulde stay him selfe vpon his worde. By this wée sée, that this is a doctrine of great weight to vnderstande that the kingdome of our Lord Iesus Christ is not héere on earth.