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…

Now in this, Jesus Christ felt no more, then when they here reproached him for putting his trust in God. And although we have not the like power so to resist, without falling: yet ought we to be strengthened by him, because we know that he vanquished and overcame all these temptations for us, and for our commodity. And this is also another thing which they said, That he had saved others, and could not save himself. Here we see again, that they were given over into a reprobate sense. For, in that he saved others, was not this a sure and an infallible token of his heavenly power? Jesus Christ raised the dead, which they knew well enough, he gave the blind their sight, he healed the sick of the palsy, restored the lame, and cast out the Devils themselves. And thus we see that Jesus Christ poured forth the great treasures of his goodness, and power in all his miracles: and yet they reproached him with them for all that. We therefore here see that these miserable bewitched people, without constraint of any man, are their own Judges, to take away all excuse from themselves: so that when they shall appear before the judgement seat of our Lord Jesus Christ, they shall never be able to allege any thing to save themselves: for behold their own mouths condemn them. For if our Lord Jesus saved other, without doubt he was able to save himself, but that he preferred others before him self. What other thing can here be seen, save only a wonderful goodness, in that he would be thrown down as men thought to draw us out of the bottomless depths: that he would suffer all that we deserved, to the end he might acquit us thereof: to be short, he forsook all temporal welfare: that is to say, he cared not for his life, he spared not his own person, that we might be assured of our everlasting salvation, and have such a pawn and payment for it. So much the more therefore ought our faith to be strengthened: and when we see, that all whatsoever the devil hath devised to trouble and hinder us from going to our Lord Jesus ⟨image 71⟩Christ, ought to serve for our furtherance, that we might be thereof assured and profit our selves thereby. Now, this is certain, that the Devil bendeth all his force to hinder us in this behalf.

Now in this, Iesus Christe felt no more, then when they héere reproched him for putting his trust in God. And although we haue not the like power so to resist, without falling: yet ought we to be strengthened by him, because wée knowe that hée vanquished and ouercame all these temptations for vs, and for our commoditie. And this is also another thing which they said, That hee had saued others, and could not saue himselfe. Héere wée sée again, that they were giuen ouer into a reprobate sense. For, in that hée saued others, was not this a sure and an infallible token of his heauenly power? Iesus Christe raysed the dead, which they knewe well enough, hée gaue the blinde their sight, hée healed the sicke of the palsie, restored the lame, and cast out the Diuels themselues. And thus wée sée that Iesus Christe powred foorth the great treasures of his goodnesse, and power in all his myracles: and yet they reproched him with them for all that. Wée therefore héere sée that these miserable bewitched people, without constraint of any man, are their owne Iudges, to take away all excuse from themselues: so that when they shall appeare before the iudgement seat of our Lorde Iesus Christe, they shal neuer bée able to alleadge any thing to saue themselues: for beholde their owne mouthes condemne them. For if our Lorde Iesus saued other, without doubt hée was able to saue hymselfe, but that he preferred others before him selfe. What other thing can héere bée seene, saue onely a wonderfull goodnes, in that he would bée throwne downe as men thought to drawe vs out of the bottomeles depthes: that he woulde suffer all that wée deserued, to the end he might acquite vs thereof: to be short, hée forsooke all temporall welfare: that is to say, hée cared not for his life, hée spared not his owne person, that wee might bee assured of our euerlasting saluation, and haue such a pawne and payment for it. So much the more therefore ought our faith to bée strengthened: and when wée sée, that al whatsoeuer the diuel hath deuised to trouble and hinder vs from going to our Lorde Iesus