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, he eftsoons setteth down, That he was afflicted, because the correction, or chastisement of our peace was laid upon him, he set down no strange thing, but declared him self more familiarly, that he might show how the thing was to be understood, and taken: which was, that our Lord Jesus Christ was beaten and smitten by the hand of God, to the end we might be ⟨p. 109⟩discharged. And therefore he bear the correction of peace which was due to us. In deed some men understand it, that it was meet that our Lord Jesus Christ should be thus punished for our sakes, because we were stubborn, & that none of us thought once to humble our selves before God, but were altogether blinded in our often ces. Howbeit we see that this is the natural meaning of the Prophet, that for the obtaining of peace at the hands of God, it must needs be that we were to be reconciled by an other mean. I have already said, that God being the judge of the world, could not choose but of very right, hate and detest us: for (as shall be soon after declared) what have we brought out from the womb of the sea, and what treasure have we gathered together all our life long? Surely, we do nothing else but provoke the wrath of God, as if we had made a league with Satan, continually to increase, more and more, his fury. See now, in what sort we have deserved to be hated and rejected at the hands of God: Behold how his wrath is kindled against us? and it is impossible but that he must needs be our enemy, because we fight against him, and with might and main make such wars, as that we violate and break all order of justice. And therefore (I say) must God, in this respect, rise up in judgement against us: because, we know it to be his very office, to maintain and defend equity and right. Wherefore since it is so, that he seeth us to be full of iniquity and corruption, and altogether rebellious, it is meet he should stretch forth his arm, and show, that because we are his enemies, he will render us the like.

Nowe, hée eftsoones setteth downe, That hee was afflicted, because the correction, or chastisement of our peace was laide vpon him, hée set downe no straunge thing, but declared him selfe more familiarly, that hée might shewe howe the thing was to bée vnderstood, and taken: which was, that our Lorde Iesus Christ was beaten and smitten by the hande of God, to the ende wée might bée ⟨p. 109⟩discharged. And therfore hée beare the correctiō of peace which was due to vs. In déede some men vnderstand it, that it was méete that our Lorde Iesus Christ should be thus punished for our sakes, because wée were stubborne, & that none of vs thought once to humble our selues before God, but were altogether blinded in our offē ces. Howbeit we sée that this is the naturall meaning of the Prophet, that for the obtaining of peace at the handes of God, it must néedes be that we were to be reconciled by an other meane. I haue alredie said, that God being the iudge of the world, could not choose but of verie right, hate and detest vs: for (as shall be soone after declared) what haue we brought out from the wombe of the sea, and what treasure haue wée gathered together all our life long? Surely, wée doe nothing els but prouoke the wrath of God, as if wée had made a league with Satan, continually to encrease, more and more, his fury. Sée nowe, in what sorte wée haue deserued to bée hated and reiected at the handes of God: Beholde how his wrath is kindled against vs? and it is impossible but that hée must néedes be our enemy, because wée fight against him, and with might and mayne make suche warres, as that we vyolate and breake all order of iustice. And therefore (I say) must God, in this respect, ryse vp in iudgement agaynst vs: because, wée knowe it to bée his verie office, to maintaine and defende equitie and right. Wherfore since it is so, that he seeth vs to be ful of iniquitie and corruption, and altogether rebellious, it is meete hée shoulde stretch foorth his arme, and shewe, that because we are his enemyes, hée will render vs the lyke.