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, to say truly,¹ we must have recourse unto that saying of the Psalm, out of which this place is taken: I will declare thy name unto my Brethren: which place the Apostle in the exposition of the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, did not only comprehend the 12.² Apostles by the name of the Brethren of Jesus Christ, but giveth also the same title generally to as many as follow the son of god and would have us to enjoy the self same honour. We see also why our Lord Jesus said, I go unto my God, and to your God, unto my father, and unto your father: now this was not meant by a few but it was spoken to the multitude of all the faithful. And although our Lord Jesus Christ be our eternal God, yet is he contented notwithstanding even in the person of a mediator, to abase himself and come near us, and to have all things common with us, in respect of his human nature. For although he, be the natural Son of God, and we by adoption, and grace, yet this community remaineth, that the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is by his mean ours also, in divers respects. For it is not meet that we should be exalted as hie as our head and sovereign: and surely this could not but be a wonderful confusion, if the head of a mans body should not be above all the rest of the members, for otherwise it would seem a very monster, and a confused lump: and therefore it is also very good reason, that our Lord Jesus Christ should keep his chief degree, because he is by nature the only son of God: and yet this letteth not but that we may be joined with him in Brotherhood, that we might freely and with good assurance call upon God, and be heard, because we have familiar access unto him. We see then what the meaning of this saying is, when our Lord Jesus calleth his Disciples, Brethren: to wit, he did it to this end, that we at this day should have the like privilege with them, by the mean of faith. And yet this is nothing derogatory from the power and majesty of the Son of God, when he thus conjoineth himself with such wretched creatures as we are, and be as it were one of our company. Wherefore we ought to be so much the more in an admiration, with the matter, whenas we see him use such his goodness towards us: as that by his resurrection he hath purchased for us the heavenly glory, for the purchasing whereof he abased himself, & became of no reputation.

Now, to say truly,¹