A17690:324
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…
Divers sermons of Master John Calvin, concerning the divinity, humanity, and nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ as also touching his passion, death, resurrection, ascension: together with the coming down of the holy Ghost upon his Apostles: and the first sermon of S. Peter. The order of which you shall find in the page ensuing.Diuers sermons of Master Iohn Caluin, concerning the diuinitie, humanitie, and natiuitie of our Lorde Iesus Christe as also touching his passion, death, resurection, ascention: togeather with the comming downe of the holy Ghoste vpon his Apostles: and the first sermon of S. Peter. The order of which you shall finde in the page ensuing.
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for George Byshop, 1581
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And who would say that it should grow to be a tree to overshadow all the world, under the which every man might shroud himself? who was ever able to imagine this, seeing so unlikely beginnings. Therefore it is not without cause that the prophet Isaiah declareth, that the world which is too too much addicted to glory, will ⟨image 109⟩never vouchsafe to look upon our Lord Jesus Christ, but rather despise him, because he is like unto a little twig & science of a tree taken out of a barren land, where was neither water, moisture, substance, or yet strength.
And who would say yt it should grow to be a trée to ouershadow all the world, vnder ye which euery mā might shroud himself? who was euer able to immagine this, séeing so vnlikely beginnings. Therefore it is not wtout cause yt the prophet Isaiah declareth, yt the world wc is too too much addicted to glory, wil ⟨image 109⟩neuer vouchsafe to looke vpon our Lord Iesus Christe, but rather despise him, because he is like vnto a little twigge & science of a trée taken out of a barren land, where was neither water, moysture, substance, or yet strength.
Now, this is namely laid before us, to the end we might not be drawn away through any such offence, but be able readily to come unto our Lord Jesus Christ. And therefore, when we hear after what sort the Gospel shall be preached unto the world, and that we see the like of it at this day: to wit, that the church shall be as a small handful of rascal people, and that we shall be abhorred of all those that bear the greatest sway in the world, let not us for all that be faint hearted. For we see how our Lord Jesus Christ appeared at the first, & although his meaning is that his kingdom should be conserved after this manner at this day, yet let not that stay us from yielding our obedience unto him.1 And since we know (as S. Paul saith) that the foolishness of God hath surpassed the wisdom of man, let not us be so arrogantly minded as to set our selves against it: But let us understand that as God his meaning was to make his son of no reputation, so likewise intended he to exalt him above the heavens: and let not us find fault with that which he hath ordained in his secrete counsel, but therein rest our selves.