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 let us also in like manner observe, that the Prophet Isaiah hath declared by these words, that although we know the thing that is good, yet will we not leave from doing the thing that is wicked & naught. And why so? Forsooth, because all our affections are enemies to God: & although we see that we must refuse the evil yet will we be carried away therewith, & that not forcibly, but even very wittingly wickedly, & it is so hid in us, as that the fruit must needs show what the roots are. And therefore, let us in the first place understand, that we know not how to walk a right, & there is but one only way which God alloweth of, & which will bring us to salvation: to wit, whenas our Lord Jesus shall take us into his protection. & be the sheep of his flock, & follow him as our shepherd, let us also further understand, that all the affections are corrupt, & will hunt after evil in stead of good, until such time as our Lord Jesus Christ hath corrected & reformed us, & put into us a right affection to obey him. And this is it which the Prophet meaneth to declare. Now, let us conclude, that all such as toss to & fro, do depart from our Lord Jesus. For the Prophet saith, That all the Patriarchs & Prophets & every one of the holy Fathers and Martyrs, have needed to be reconciled unto God, through the death and Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. For, if Abraham the father of the faithful, If David the mirror of all righteousness, and if others such like, as Job & Daniel, who are called as it were, the mirrors of all holiness and perfection: If these, I say, were poor strayed ⟨image 121⟩and lost sheep, until such time as they were reconciled by our Lord Jesus Christ, Alas, what shall become of us? And therefore when we shall seek after our Mediators, and think by their means to escape the destruction wherein we are, do we not show our selves too too unthankful unto our Lord Jesus Christ? And are not we in the mean while too too void of sense and reason, to crave any thing at their hands, who also have need to run for help to the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ? For, if necessity enforceth us to seek for remedy, we must go unto him, unto whom all the faithful in every age had recourse: For neither Saint Peter, nor yet Saint Paul, nor the virgin Mary, nor any whatsoever, that are exempt from it.

and let vs also in like maner obserue, that the Prophet Isaiah hath declared by these wordes, that although wee know the thing yt is good, yet wil we not leaue frō doing the thing yt is wicked & naught. And why so? Forsooth, because al our affections are enimies to God: & although we sée that we must refuse the euil yet wil we be carried away therwith, & that not forcibly, but euen very wittingly wickedly, & it is so hid in vs, as that the fruit must néedes shew what the rootes are. And therefore, let vs in the first place vnderstand, yt we know not how to walke a right, & there is but one only way which God alloweth of, & which wil bring vs to saluatiō: to wit, whenas our Lord Iesus shal take vs into his protection. & be the shéepe of his flocke, & follow him as our shepheard, let vs also further vnderstand, yt al the affections are corrupt, & wil hunt after euill in stéede of good, vntil such time as our Lord Iesus Christ hath corrected & reformed vs, & put into vs a right affection to obey him. And this is it which the Prophet meaneth to declare. Now, let vs conclude, that all such as tosse to & fro, doe depart frō our Lord Iesus. For the Prophet saith, That all the Patriarkes & Prophets & euery one of the holy Fathers and Martyrs, haue néeded to be reconciled vnto God, through the death and Passion of our Lord Iesus Christ. For, if Abraham the father of the faithful, If Dauid the mirrour of al righteousnesse, and if others such like, as Iob & Daniell, who are called as it were, the myrrours of all holinesse and perfection: If these, I say, were poore strayed