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, because the kingly house was then base, and of no honour, he said it should be as sometimes it had been, that Isai was a country man, & his children Neat herds, & Shepherds. This house in those days was nothing, and of no reputation: and besides, was like unto the body of a tree lying on the ground, which men trode upon, and of no estimation. Jesus Christ then was ⟨image 108⟩like unto a silly twig or branch: But it is said soon after, that he should so wonderfully grow, as that he should overshadow the whole world. Here, the Prophet also showeth, that it must needs be that our Lord Jesus should be thus contemptible at the first. For if this had not been namely declared, they might very well have been offended, whenas they see our Lord Jesus Christ to be thus contemptible as touching the world. For it was said, that one should continually sit upon the seat of David, & that this kingdom should flourish, although he held the Sun & Moon. And now behold, that this princely house was as it were razed & utterly defaced: & who would think that the promise should be accomplished in the person of our Lord Jesus? For, there was no likelihood, that he should have been restored to the princely estate, but when it is said that this house should as it were come to naught, & he of no more estimation, nor have no more rule, & preeminence, & that it should be ashamed, as a man would say, to see such a destruction and confusion: when the Prophets, I say, have told this much, then have we a very good entrée, to wit, Jesus Christ. Neither must we be abashed, as at a strange & unknown thing, although our Lord Jesus Christ showed himself, in so base a state and condition. For, to say the trueth, it is not in this place alone, that the holy Ghost hath thus said. We see also what the Prophet Amos saith, That God will raise this seat,¹ which before was overthrown: And this place is also set down in the Acts of the Apostles, to declare that our Lord Jesus Christ shall begin to reign, when it shall please God to repair the things that were confounded. And namely it was said, that this kingdom, with the kingly crown, should be trod under foot as it were, and have no head, until such time as the Redeemer were come into the world.

And therefore, because the kingly house was then base, and of no honour, hee said it shoulde be as sometimes it had béen, that Isai was a countrie man, & his children Neat heardes, & Shepheardes. This house in those dayes was nothing, and of no reputation: and besides, was like vnto the body of a trée lying on the groūd, which men troode vpon, and of no estimation. Iesus Christe then was