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…

& when he should be seen, no account to be made of him: last of all: that there was nothing to be found in him worthy of reputation, & yet that God would so lift him up, magnify, & exalt him, as that he should surpass whatsoever we might any way conceive of his majesty, here in this world. A man might say, that these two things could no more agree together than fire & water: & yet the Prophet saith, that we must believe that God will in such sort work, as that base beginnings shall be no let to bring things to a perfect end. Mark also why it is said, that he shall be wonderfully lifted up, exalted, & advanced: For, this was a ⟨image 100⟩temptation hardly to be withstood & overcome. Neither is it also enough that God declareth unto us in a word, what he meaneth to do, but when we see how his doings are withstood, & that it seemeth, that, that, which God hath said, is impossible to be brought to pass, yet let us be confirmed & strengthened, and be able to have wherewith to overcome whatsoever may be laid before us, to hinder our believing the promises of God. And therefore, this is even as much as if the Prophet had said, My friends, assure your selves that God will exalt the Redeemer, yea, he will do it in deed. But if we will reply & say, you say well sir, but I pray you which way? For we see, that the means are too too strange. Well have you no doubt thereof: because the power of God is of so great might as you are not able to understand it: But (however it is) if you doubt, & waver, and fall to reasoning, & will not be contented with these words, withstand I say, these fond imaginations, & be strong, set your selves against your unbelief: & be of this resolute mind, that however it is, God will work far beyond your expectation, & far beyond your opinion and reason. Thus we see the pretence of the Prophet by using these three, or rather four kinds of sayings, which notwithstanding do signify all one thing. And he declareth it very well to be so, by saying, That he was foul and ill favoured, and not worthy to be looked on, because there was neither beauty nor good countenance in him, but was as one cut off from the company of all men, and not worthy to be placed amongst mortal men. Now, this, when time serveth, shall be more amply declared: For this very sentence shall be again rehearsed, for a more large setting forth of the matter.

& when he should bée séene, no account to be made of him: last of all: yt there was nothing to be found in him worthy of reputation, & yet that God woulde so lift him vp, magnifie, & exalt him, as that hée should surpasse whatsoeuer we might any way cōceiue of his maiesty, here in this world. A man might say, that these two things could no more agrée together thē fire & water: & yet the Prophet saith, that we must beléeue that God wil in such sort work, as that base beginnings shal be no let to bring things to a perfect end. Mark also why it is said, that he shal be wonderfully lifted vp, exalted, & aduanced: For, this was a