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…

For the ⟨p. 120⟩Prophet showeth, that without it, it might be said that the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ should be unprofitable. Now this were a blasphemy not to be borne, to think that the son of God came down into the world, to abide so cruel a death, and to have the judgement of God fall so on his head, as that he bear the punishment for our sins, and was taken to be the greatest malefactor in the world: & yet all this not to profit his faithful servants any thing at all, it might well enough be said, that this were, as a man would say, a very jest. Wherefore, the prophet bringeth us back to this consideration, that we should well understand, for what end & purpose our Lord Jesus was thus scourged & beaten. And this came not by fortune, as hath ben before declared. Nether must we look only unto that which men did, and to those which unjustly slew him, but we must lift up the eyes of our faith unto the counsel of God, by which he had ordained that Jesus Christ should be sacrificed, to the end he might purchase remission of our sins for us. Wherefore, since it is so, we are always to conclude, that Jesus Christ suffered not for himself, but received the wounds which were due to us, we are here in this first place exhorted to enter into the knowledge and examination of our sins, whenas the death & passion of our Lord Jesus Christ is set before us. It is very true ye God therein poureth out the infinite treasures of his goodness: for, indeed, when S. Paul hath said that we are justified by our lord Jesus, & that in staying our selves upon his death & passion, we may boldly present our selves before god, & be glad that he will always except of us. After Saint Paul, I say, hath handled this doctrine, that although we be miserable sinners, yet will not God cast us off, but uphold us, because he receiveth us in the name of his only son, he goeth on farther, & sayeth, I beseech you Brethren even in the bowels of the goodness and mercy of God. Wherein he showeth, that in the suffering of Jesus Christ, we have a testimony of the infinite love of god: as if he would lay open his hart, and show us his bowels to testify unto us how dear and precious we and our souls are unto him.

For the ⟨p. 120⟩Prophet sheweth, that without it, it might be saide that the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ should be vnprofitable. Now this were a blasphemie not to be borne, to think that ye son of God came downe into ye world, to abide so cruel a death, and to haue the iudgement of God fall so on his head, as that he beare the punishment for our sinnes, and was taken to bee the greatest malefactor in ye world: & yet al this not to profit his faithful seruants ani thing at all, yt might well inough be saide, yt this were, as a man would say, a very iest. Wherfore, ye prophet bringeth vs back to this cōsideration, yt we should well vnderstand, for what end & purpose our Lord Iesus was thus scourged & beaten. And this came not by fortune, as hath ben before declared. Nether must wée looke only vnto that which men did, and to those which vniustly slew him, but wée must lift vp the eies of our faith vnto the counsell of God, by which he had ordained yt Iesus Christ should be sacrificed, to the ende hée might purchase remission of our sinnes for vs. Wherefore, since it is so, we are alwaies to conclude, that Iesus Christ suffered not for himselfe, but receyued the woundes which were due to vs, we are héere in this first place exhorted to enter into the knowledge and examination of our sins, whenas the death & passion of our Lord Iesus Christ is set before vs. It is very true ye God therein powreth out the infinit treasures of his goodnes: for, indéede, when S. Paul hath saide that we ar iustified by our lord Iesus, & yt in staying our selues vpon his death & passion, we may boldly present our selues before god, & be glad that hée wil alwaies except of vs. After Saint Paul, I say, hath handled this doctrin, that although we be miserable sinners, yet wil not God cast vs off, but vpholde vs, because hée receiueth vs in the name of his only son, he goeth on farther, & sayeth, I beséech you Brethren euen in the bowels of the goodnes and mercie of God. Wherin he sheweth, that in the suffering of Iesus Christ, we haue a testimony of the infinit loue of god: as if he wold lay open his hart, and shew vs his bowels to testefye vnto vs how deare and precious wée and our soules are vnto him.