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, let us forsake this world, if we will join our selves unto the son of god. Furthermore, because this doctrine might take the better hold of us, the prophet crieth out he sayeth not that the age of our Lord Jesus Christ shall be only everlasting, but casteth it out as a man marvellously abashed, saying, Who shall be able to number his years. Wherefore we are admonished to strive against all temptations: & although we be some times hindered this way and that: & be as it were cast down without moving, yet let us resist, & with much to do enforce us, until such time as we have attained unto this which is here showed us: to wit, the mans reason is not able to understand, nor yet any mouth able to express the age of our Lord Jesus. And for the bringing of this matter about we must be also very well advertised to surmount all our thoughts, whenas we fall in reasoning of putting our trust in our lord Jesus Christ, & follow him, for the partaking of the heavenly inheritance, which he hath purchased for us. Neither must we stick to our own opinion and fantasy, whenas this doctrine shall be well treated of, as if it were to be debated by words. But let us know this, that although our faith hangeth upon hearing, yet shall it never have through assurance, except it receive such a testimony from God and from his holy spirit, as surpasseth whatsoever the tong of man is able to express. For this cause, must we not dwell in our own understandings, and judge as we think best, but let us know that it is a wonderful and an in comprehensible secret, ye the son of God became a mortal man, and subject to death, that we might be exempt from it, and that now, in the middest of all our weakness, we should have nevertheless life everlasting which must be obtained by faith, until such time as it be throughly manifested unto us at his coming, in the last day. And this is the effect of that which we are to learn out of this place. Now the Prophet goeth on further, and sayeth, That he was cut of from out of the land of the living, & received the wounds which were due to his people. This is a confirmation of that which we lately handled: to wit, that the age of our Lord Jesus Christ should not serve for himself alone, but also for the whole body of his Church, whereunto he is united, and bound as it were with an inseparable bond.

And therfore, let vs forsake this world, if we wil ioyne our selues vnto ye son of god. Furthermore, because this doctrine might take ye better holde of vs, ye prophet cryeth out he saieth not that the age of our Lord Iesus Christ shall be onelye euerlasting, but casteth it out as a man meruelously abashed, saying, Who shall be able to number his yeares. Wherfore we are admonished to striue against all temptations: & although we be some times hindred this way and that: & be as it were cast downe wtout mouing, yet let vs resist, & with much to doo enforce vs, vntill such time as wée haue attained vnto this which is héere shewed vs: to wit, ye mans reason is not able to vnderstande, nor yet any mouth able to expresse the age of our Lord Iesus. And for the bringing of this matter about we must be also very wel aduertised to surmoūt all our thoughts, whēas we fal in reasoning of putting our trust in our lord Iesus Christ, & folow him, for the partaking of the heauē ly enheritaunce, which he hath purchased for vs. Neither must we stick to our own opinion and fantasy, whenas this doctrine shal be well treated of, as if it were to bée debated by words. But let vs know this, that although our faith hangeth vpon hearing, yet shall it neuer haue through assurance, except it receiue such a testimony from God and from his holy spirite, as surpasseth whatsoeuer the tong of man is able to expresse. For this cause, must wée not dwell in our owne vnderstandinges, and iudge as we thinke best, but let vs know that it is a wonderfull and an in comprehensible secret, ye the sonne of God became a mortall man, and subiect to death, that wée might be exempt from it, and that now, in the middest of al our weaknes, we should haue neuertheles life euerlasting which must be obtained by fayth, vntil such time as it be throughly manifested vnto vs at his comming, in the last day. And this is the effect of that which wée are to learne out of this place. Now the Prophet goeth on further, and saieth, That hee was cut of from out of the lande of the liuing, & receued the wounds which were due to his people. This is a confirmation of that which wée lately handeled: to wyt, that the age of our Lorde Iesus Christ should not serue for himself alone, but also for the whole body of his Church, wherevnto hee is vnited, and bounde as it were with an inseperable bonde.