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…

Moreover, there are some which blaspheme it with open mouth and othersome desire but to hold themselves unto that which they have conceived in their fantastical crowing brain. Besides, there are some so blockish, as that they are neither named nor touched, more then stones, and othersome there are, who though they have a fair cloak of godliness, yet are they liars and perjured persons, and nothing in them but deceit and hypocrisy. This, we well enough see, and although the Prophet had said nothing, yet we will open our eyes, we shall see it to be so. And is not this a fearful thing, and a monster against nature? yes no doubt of it.

Moreouer, there are some which blaspheme it with open mouth and othersome desire but to hold themselues vnto that which they haue conceiued in their fantastical crowing braine. Besides, there are some so blockish, as that they are neither named nor touched, more then stones, and othersome there are, who though they haue a fayre cloke of godlinesse, yet are they lyars and periured persons, and nothing in them but deceit and hypocrisie. This, we well enough sée, and although the Prophet had said nothing, yet we wil open our eyes, we shal sée it to bée so. And is not this a fearefull thing, and a monster against nature? yes no doubt of it.

Now, here might marvellous offences be taken, to serve as it were for a bar to keep us from coming to the Gospel, if we should look into the dealings of the world, so that we might say, what? if the word of God be our most excellent blessedness and felicity, how falleth it out that it is thus rejected. And besides, what is the cause that God suffereth himself thus to be scorned, and resisted, and that he maketh them not to hear him, & to give him the credit which appertaineth unto him? So what temptations here are, to cause us not to believe the Gospel. Surely, here is a great speak, as though our misbelief did derogate from the truth of God, and lessened his honour. And therefore, it is not without cause, that the Prophet Isaiah hath interlaced this saying. For if he had simply said, as here before we have seen, that is, that all the world should be bedewed by our Lord Jesus Christ, and that the gospel should be spread all over, & kings & princes should subject themselves unto him: we would at this present say, ho, this was not spoken by the Prophet Isaiah for our time: For we see all to be clean contrary, & in steed that the earth should be bedewed for the obtaining of