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 therefore we see, why Isaiah restraineth here his speech unto the person of our Lord Jesus Christ: to this end & purpose (I say) that the redemption & return of the people, which before he had spoken of, might be holden to be most certain and sure. Now we have seen here above,¹ that our Lord Jesus was called The servant of God, forsomuch as he most obediently submitted himself for our salvation: yea, being he, who was Lord of glory, the head of the Angels, and before whom every knee must bow. Wherefore, since this name of servant is given unto him, let us understand that it is, because he took upon him our nature, and that he would not only abase himself therein, but also be made of no reputation. For it could not be chosen but that our transgressions and iniquities, must be repaired through his obedience. And according to that, which he said to John Baptist,² he must needs fulfil the measure of all righteousness: Thus we see, that although our Lord Jesus Christ was full of all majesty, & God everlasting, yet because he took upon him our nature, and became like unto us he thought not scorn too be of the lowest degree of men which cannot be gainsaid. For although his divine nature was no whit changed ⟨image 99⟩Yet if we consider well of the matter, it was meet he should abase himself,³ as he was a Mediator betwixt God and us: for it is said, that he was made subject to the law, although indeed he was no whit indebted to the same, for it was he that must rule all, and unto whom all subjection was due: howbeit he placed himself in that rank that he might free us from the yoke which we were not able to bear. For the law was a burden to press us clean down, if so be our Lord Jesus Christ had not borne it, and had freed us thereof by that mean. Neither let us think it strange that he was called the servant of God: seeing he refused not eftsoons to become our servant, which was very much. For if we consider of our own estate, we see it is but a vain thing, we are but silly worms of the earth, and the Devil, and sin have power over us: and yet behold how the only son of God hath abased himself to become our servant,⁴