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…

Wherefore, dearly beloved brethren in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, whensoever that God sendeth unto us any good and faithful teacher, who sincerely and purely delivereth unto his Auditory the word of the Lord, we ought to make a marvellous great account of him: for, we shall find very few such men as will faithfully acquit them selves of their charge and function: and we ought amongst other things greatly to reverence all those whom God hath endowed with special graces and the gift of interpreting▪ Even as at this day the faithful Pastor and good servant of God John Calvin, hath made that precious talent which God bestowed upon him very profitable, whose Sermons yield unto us a good testimony thereof, which also, (in the judgement of indifferent men) were not slightly made, nor hastily huddled up, but duly & truly premeditated and rightly delivered unto the capacity of his flock, having always in open show, the lively impression of the benefit of the Lord Jesus in their hearts. Neither are these like unto common places caught in a net, either yet bosom Sermons, which may serve for any text of scripture, as a stool for all feet: But are true, sincere, plain, and meet expositions serving for the text which he had to treat of: neither are they stuffed with frivolous exhortations: either yet filled with ambitious invectives. For, as it is very needful that the superstitions of Popery should, by the word of God, be daily inveighed against, to the end they, might be clean rinsed and scoured out of our hearts, as a strong savour wherewith we have been seasoned even from our infancy, yet if the place which he handled did not orderly speak against such abuses, he would not pass the bounds of his Text, and cry out, upon them: as the Papists, always, and to no purpose, like Mastiff Curs bark and bay against the Gospel, renewed in this latter age of the world: But his manner was to hold a plain and direct course, tending to edification, without omitting any thing which might serve and make for the honour of God, and instruction of his Auditory. I would, if it pleased God, there were a great many moe his like: For then I know, that the Church of Christ, should be greatly eased and furthered:

Wherefore, dearely beloued brethren in our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ, whensoeuer that God sendeth vnto vs any good and faithfull teacher, who sincerely and purely deliuereth vnto his Auditorie the worde of the Lorde, wee ought to make a meruellous great account of him: for, we shal finde verie few such men as will faithfully acquite them selues of their charge and function: and we ought amongst other things greatly to reuerence all those whom God hath endowed with speciall graces and the gift of enterpreting Euen as at this day the faithful Pastor and good seruant of God Iohn Caluin, hath made that precious talēt which God bestowed vpō him verie profitable, whose Sermons yelde vnto vs a good testimony therof, which also, (in the iudgement of indifferēt men) were not slightly made, nor hastily hudled vp, but duely & truely premeditated and rightly deliuered vnto the capacitie of his flocke, hauing alwayes in open shew, the liuely impression of the benefit of the Lord Iesus in their hearts. Neither are these like vnto common places caught in a net, either yet bosome Sermons, which may serue for any text of scripture, as a stoole for al feete: But are true, sincere, plaine, and meete expositions seruing for the text which he had to treate of: neither are they stuffed with friuolous exhortations: either yet filled with ambitious inuectiues. For, as it is verie needful that the superstitions of Poperie shoulde, by the worde of God, bee daily enueighed against, to the ende they, might be cleane rinsed and scowred out of our heartes, as a strong sauour wherewith we haue beene seasoned euen from our infancie, yet if the place which hee handled did not orderly speake against such abuses, hee woulde not passe the boundes of his Texte, and crye out, vpon them: as the Papists, alwaies, and to no purpose, like Mastife Curres barke and baye against the Gospell, renued in this latter age of the worlde: But his manner was to holde a plaine and direct course, tending to edification, without omitting any thing which might serue and make for the honour of God, and instruction of his Auditorie. I woulde, if it pleased God, there were a great many moe his lyke: For then I knowe, that the Church of Christ, should be greatly eased and furthered: