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, it is said that Jesus Christ shall be so from the beginning, ⟨p. 102⟩expressing thereby that there should be no means here on earth to make him flourish, but that he should be increased from heaven, & that by the secrete power of God his Father: and not be aided by the world, because it is altogether barren & fruitless. And this was not only said of his birth, but is also to be referred to the whole course of the Gospel. In deed, this was a sign that Jesus Christ was but a poor twig, whenas he could not get a place to be lodged amongst men, but was like one that was banished & excluded from all company, & so poorly brought up as ever was man. And this was to prepare the hearts of the faithful to understand that Jesus Christ should be rejected & contemned as touching the world: but the principal matter for them to understand was, when he should come to preach the Gospel, and execute the charge committed unto him by God his father. For then they began to say, Is not this the Carpenters son, do not we know his bringing up? And in what school he hath learned to be so great a Doctor?¹ And his kindred seeing him to be so extremely hated, would have made him believe that he had been mad, & that he must be tied, & kept from doing his duty, for fear the people would have stoned them all to death: for they saw well enough that this malice would stretch it self forth to the whole family & kindred, And at last, behold Jesus Christ was crucified. So that then a man would have thought the gospel had been clearly buried with him, & the remembrance thereof quite put out. Who would have said that the Apostles had ever been able thus to have set forth the doctrine of the Gospel: For, mark what simple men they were, such as never knew what learning meant, altogether unacquainted with the holy scripture, & utterly without skill & ability: and besides, a refuse people, whom no man would vouchsafe to hear, although in very deed they had spoken with the tongues of Angels. And what is to be seen herein, but even a very wilderness? where are the honourable shows, & preparations, that should make kings & princes to stoop to the gospel. For sooth, here are none at all. But on the contrary part, behold naked swords, fire & faggot, to stop the course thereof. Wherefore, we right well see that it was like unto a small graft planted in a barren land.

Nowe, it is saide that Iesus Christe shalbe so from the beginning,