A17690:377
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.
Moreover, we should have always matter enough to despair on, because we are guilty of an infinite number of sins And therefore, if our Lord Jesus Christ had gone down into the bottomless depths and had not been afterward exalted into heaven, what had we ben the better? truly, no whit, but always remain like miserable caitiffs, out of all measure disquieted, and horribly tormented, by seeing the wrath of God continually upon us. But when it is said in the first place, that he was condemned, and suffered most fearful pangs, to the end we might be freed from them, and be at peace with God (as yesterday was told you) we now know, that he loveth and favoureth us, & receiveth us to mercy: and therefore when we understand that Jesus Christ was thereupon exalted: we may also very well conclude that it was to draw us unto him, to the end we might be partakers of the glory which was given unto him by God his father.
Moreouer, wée should haue alwaies matter enough to dispaire on, because we are guilty of an infinit number of sinnes And therfore, if our Lorde Iesus Christ had gone downe into the bottomlesse depthes and had not bene afterwarde exalted into heauen, what had wée ben the better? truly, no whit, but alwayes remaine lyke miserable caytiues, out of all measure disquieted, and horrybly tormented, by séeing the wrath of God continuallye vpon vs. But when it is saide in the first place, that he was condemned, and suffered most fearefull panges, to the ende we might be freed from them, and be at peace with God (as yesterday was tolde you) wée now know, that he loueth and fauoureth vs, & receiueth vs to mercy: and therefore when we vnderstande that Iesus Christe was therevpon exalted: wée may also very well conclude that it was to draw vs vnto him, to the ende we might be partakers of the glory which was giuen vnto him by God his father.
Moreover, we are also to note the words of the Prophet which followeth, Who is he that is able to number his years. For, by these words he meaneth to show, that the effect and power of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus was for ever, and that it is no temporal thing which many times melteth and vanisheth away. And this is a very necessary point: for, some have taken this age, for the eternal generation of our Lord Jesus Christ, because he was begotten by God his father from all eternity. Some other have strained the words of the Prophet this way and that: but when we shall look more narrowly into the matter, there is no doubt, but that he meant to show, that the honour which was given to Jesus Christ, was not for him self, and his own person, and for a day only, but that he purchased us everlasting life, for as Saint Paul sayeth, That inasmuch as he dyed, he dyed once for sin,