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…

and to speak in one word, if the image of God, which was defaced by man his disobedience, be repaired in us by our Redeemer, who alone hath reconciled us to God his Father, cleansing us from our sins, making us his brethren, and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven, freed from the tyranny of sin, and of the Devil, impoverishing himself to make us Princes, and companions with Angels, and by his death recovering us life: If these inestimable benefits (I say) be not lightly considered of us, we should esteem of them, as it is good reason, above all other things, yea, we should leave & forsake all other things, to seek and enjoy them, and never be wearied with any pain, neither yet faint hearted, seeing it is the bread of the word of God that we must all, seek after. And this bread, amongst other virtues, hath this, that is, it maketh him who is daily fed therewith, more and more increase in the unity of faith, until such time as he cometh to the fullness of a perfect man. And without faith there is no salvation, and faith (as the Apostle witnesseth) cometh by hearing, and hearing cometh by preaching of the word, so that without hearing of the word preached, there can be no faith, and consequently, no salvation. This bread also of the word hath so pleasant a taste, as that if the sweetness of honey it self, be compared with it, it shall be as bitter as Gal. Surely, the godliest and best fruits of the earth, in respect of this which restoreth the soul, rejoiceth the heart, strengtheneth the weak, and comforteth the afflicted, are all but rotten, and no whit pleasant or delightful. To be short, over and besides, that we are with so great pleasure thereby in such sort strengthened, as no tongue is able to express, we are moreover so enriched therewith, as that all the treasures in this world, in regard of it, can be but filthy and stinking. And therefore, every one is to consider and understand, ⟨image 4⟩that the whole felicity of man, resteth in this spiritual food. Here is likewise to be joined withal, that our labour in travelling for the same, shall not be lost: For, God the Creator, sendeth us not at this day (thanks be given to him for it for ever) scarcity of this Manna and heavenly doctrine: But most abundantly giveth and poureth it abroad without money, all the world over, to all such as hunger after it:

and to speake in one word, if the image of God, which was defaced by man his disobedience, bee repaired in vs by our Redeemer, who alone hath recōciled vs to God his Father, cleansing vs from our sinnes, making vs his brethren, and enheritors of the kingdome of heauen, freed from the tyranny of sinne, and of the Deuill, empouerishing himselfe to make vs Princes, and companions with Angels, and by his death recouering vs life: If these inestimable benefites (I say) be not lightly considered of vs, we should esteeme of them, as it is good reason, aboue all other things, yea, we should leaue & forsake all other things, to seeke and enioy them, and neuer bee wearied with any paine, neither yet faint hearted, seeing it is the bread of the word of God that wee must all, seeke after. And this bread, amongst other vertues, hath this, that is, it maketh him who is daily fed therewith, more and more encrease in the vnitie of faith, vntill such time as hee commeth to the fulnesse of a perfect man. And without fayth there is no saluation, and fayth (as the Apostle witnesseth) commeth by hearing, and hearing commeth by preaching of the word, so that without hearing of the word preached, there can be no fayth, and consequently, no saluation. This bread also of the word hath so pleasant a taste, as that if the sweetnesse of honie it selfe, be compared with it, it shall be as bitter as Gal. Surely, the godliest and best fruits of the earth, in respect of this which restoreth the soule, reioyceth the heart, strengtheneth the weake, and comforteth the afflicted, are all but rotten, and no whit pleasant or delightfull. To be short, ouer and besides, that we are with so great pleasure thereby in such sort strengthened, as no tongue is able to expresse, we are moreouer so enriched therewith, as that all the treasures in this world, in regard of it, can be but filthy and stinking. And therefore, euery one is to consider and vnderstande,