A17690:233
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…
Divers sermons of Master John Calvin, concerning the divinity, humanity, and nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ as also touching his passion, death, resurrection, ascension: together with the coming down of the holy Ghost upon his Apostles: and the first sermon of S. Peter. The order of which you shall find in the page ensuing.Diuers sermons of Master Iohn Caluin, concerning the diuinitie, humanitie, and natiuitie of our Lorde Iesus Christe as also touching his passion, death, resurection, ascention: togeather with the comming downe of the holy Ghoste vpon his Apostles: and the first sermon of S. Peter. The order of which you shall finde in the page ensuing.
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for George Byshop, 1581
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
We have therefore to understand that when our Lord Jesus was driven to this extremity, as if GOD his Father had cut all hope of life clean from him, it was (as we have said) because he suffered the curse of our sins in his own body, which were the cause that separated us from the Majesty of God. For wherein have we any felicity except we be quickened by the grace of GOD, and enlightened with ⟨image 79⟩his brightness? For he is the very fountain of all life and blessedness, & our sins make a great separation between him and us. And therefore it was meet that Christ Jesus should feel this. Now, let us come to that that may be said. Is it possible that Jesus Christ should be so fearfully troubled, seeing he was perfection it self? For this seemeth to derogate from the Faith which he ought to have had, and whatsoever we ought to believe of him: which is, that he was without spot of sin. Now, this matter is soon answered. For when Satan tempted him, it must needs fall out that he should be so taken, as to be set upon the top of a pinnacle, and according to mans nature,1 be subject to such an illusion: and yet this no whit impaired his divine power. But we have rather occasion to magnify his mercy and goodness to us ward, forsomuch as he so abased himself to save us. It is eftsoons said that he cried out, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me. In the first place it is most certain, that Jesus Christ, inasmuch as he was God, could have no such conceit. No: But until such time as it fell out, that his Godhead must give place to the death which he must suffer. And thus we see that the power of our Lord Jesus Christ lay as it were hid for a time, until he had made an end of whatsoever was requisite for our redemption. But now, in as much as he was man, Let us note that this complaint, feeling, and fear, whereof we now speak, hath no manner of way derogated from the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. For, in that he was man, he trusted altogether in God, as we have already heard, and as was yesterday sufficiently handled. This then was the very true pattern of a right, perfect, and sound faith. Now, it is here said, that he was so sore tormented, as that it seemed that God his Father had forsaken him: and yet had he always a perfect faith, without being overthrown or shaken any kind of way.
Wée haue therefore to vnderstande that when our Lorde Iesus was driuen to this extremitie, as if GOD his Father hadde cutte all hope of lyfe cleane from him, it was (as wée haue sayde) because hée suffered the curse of our sinnes in his owne bodie, whiche were the cause that separated vs from the Maiesty of God. For wherein haue wée any felicity except we bée quickened by the grace of GOD, and enlightened with