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 in very deed, he compareth him to rain, and saith that God shall bedew or sprinkle those which never understood the trueth, but were as a man would say like unto brute beasts. They, saith he, shall be taught, and be made partakers of the benefit which was purchased, and the Church of God shall be so spread over the face of the whole earth, as that they which have blasphemed this sincere doctrine, shall have their mouths stopped, except they will most reverently and soberly confess, that there is none but the GOD of Israel that is to be honoured, and that his only Son, the very lively Image of his glory and Majesty, ought to be received and worshipped. Yea kings themselves although they be never so proudly bent, shall be enforced to abase themselves, and most willingly obey. Thus we see how honourable the words of the Prophet are.

Now in very déede, he compareth him to rayne, and sayth that God shall bedeaw or sprinckle those which neuer vnderstood the trueth, but were as a man woulde say like vnto bruite beastes. They, sayth hée, shall be taught, and be made partakers of the benefite which was purchased, and the Church of God shalbe so spred ouer the face of ye whole earth, as that they which haue blaspemed this sincere doctrine, shall haue their mouthes stopped, except they will moste reuerently and soberly confesse, that there is none but the GOD of Israell that is to bée honoured, and that his onely Sonne, the very liuely Image of his glory and Maiestie, ought to bee receiued and worshipped. Yea kings themselues although they be neuer so proudly bente, shalbe enforced to abase themselues, and most willingly obey. Thus wee sée howe honourable the wordes of the Prophet are.

Now, he foreseeth that when the Gospel shall be preached throughout the face of the whole earth, that some will make a jest at it, some will be mad at it, some will never find any taste in it, some will be blockish, other some will hypocritically lye unto GOD, and make a show that they love and obey the Gospel, and yet all shall be but plain dissembling. Wherefore, the Prophet seeing the world to be thus wicked, and foreseeing that God should not be heard, nor yet his word so reverently received as it ought, wondered, and cried out saying, Who shall believe our doctrine? As if he should have said, Alas, I preach here salvation unto the world, but it is all lost labour without this remedy be had: to wit, that GOD will send his only son, to fight against the Devil and death, that he might thereby purchase us righteousness, and life: For this doctrine is it that must bedew all the world over, otherwise we are very fruitless. There is in us nothing but dryness and wretchedness: and yet God tarrieth not until such time as we desire him to bedew us but cometh first to us and frankly offereth himself, presenting unto us his only son with his doctrine: and herein, he showeth himself so loving, as that he ought to be received without gainsaying: yea should not every man be so zealously inflamed, as not to make any reckoning of all the rest whatsoever,