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 we must necessarily conclude, that it is miraculous, to see the gospel thus prosper. Thus we see in sum, how we must put in practise this doctrine in these days. Yet there is something more, and that is this, that Jesus Christ must be disfigured. The Prophet hath already said, That he should be like unto a small twig: But that which is more, he should be contemned, ⟨p. 104⟩refused, & not once vouchsafed to be looked on, neither should there be any thing in him, that were to be desired. And this is to declare, that our Lord Jesus Christ should, as we have already said, be vilely esteemed of the world, and suffer all reproach and shame, as if men had not only forsaken him, but God also. Now to seek our salvation, which is a thing so greatly to be desired, in him, in whom is no kind of likelihood, this should seem to be a great abuse. And therefore, if we will come to Jesus Christ, we must overcome this temptation. Now, this is a very necessary point, first, because the Jews looked for an earthly kingdom: for this was so covetous & proud a nation as that they thought god could not show himself merciful unto them except he heaped on them great riches of the world, that they might live gloriously, & in all pleasure: thus we see, what a redeemer it was that they looked for: and yet had God throughly advertised them, that the redeemer should be like unto a little twig whom the world should refuse. And this admonition was not only necessary for them, but also as necessary for us even at this day: for this offence remained after the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, for S. Luke saith, that the Gentiles made a mock as it were, at Jesus Christ, & the Jews were venomously & maliciously armed against him, & stumbled at him as at a stumbling stone. And of these examples, we have enough even at this day with us. We are therefore to consider so much the more of this doctrine, that is, that it must needs be that the son of God must be thus misshapen, and ill favoured, and that there should be nothing in him worthy commendation, in the sight of the world: for by the way, we must always have this note which S. John speaketh of, that the glory of the son of God appeared in him: howbeit there were many blind fools which never understood thus much.

and therefore we must necessarily conclude, that it is miraculous, to sée the gospel thus prosper. Thus we sée in summe, how we must put in practise this doctrin in these daies. Yet there is somthing more, and that is this, that Iesus Christ must be disfigured. The Prophet hath already saide, That hee should be like vnto a small twigge: But that which is more, he should bee contemned,