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, it is most certain that all the miseries which we feel are the very fruits of our sins. For, had we abode in the same purity wherein God set our father Adam, our punishments should cease and be abolished in the world. And therefore the fruit of our sins is the cause of our punishments. So then, we are to conclude, that forsomuch as there was not found the least blot that might be in our Lord Jesus Christ, he therefore bear the punishment, which we were worthy of, and deserved. And mark besides, why the Prophet addeth, that God would make him subject to infirmities. This word Infirmity, hath a large scope in the Scriptures, for it importeth all the things which make men contemptible, as we see in many places thereof. For, poverty, sickness, grief of mind, or contemptibleness, and a man that hath no good grace either to speak or do well, neither yet good gesture or behaviour, nor ability of wit and discretion, are all called in the Scripture infirmities. To be short, this is to bring us back to the thing which the Prophet hath already touched: to wit, that our Lord Jesus Christ was like a deformed Creature, and such a one as in whom was no show of reputation and credit amongst men. And yet not such a one neither, but that there appeared in him, sure and certain marks and tokens, that he was to be honoured as the only Son of God:¹ But it was in such sort darkened by his sufferings, and his infirmity such, as that there was no power or virtue seen in him, and it seemed that there was no grace nor favour in him why he should be esteemed and had in honour. We must also call to mind the thing that hath been before recited, to wit, that he was beaten and scourged by the hand of God, suffered the horrible anguishes of his judgement, & in his body bear the fearfullest torments that might be: and over and besides all this, he was so vilely thought of, as that he was not esteemed to be placed amongst the most wicked and slavish company. ⟨p. 126⟩Thus we see how the Son of God was punished. Wherefore, since the case thus standeth, let us understand, that forasmuch as God spared not him, that we for our parts shall not be spared:

Nowe, it is most certaine that all the miseries which we féele are the very fruites of our sinnes. For, had we aboade in the same puritie wherein God set our father Adam, our punishments should cease and bée abolished in the worlde. And therefore the fruit of our sinnes is the cause of our punishments. So then, wée are to conclude, that forsomuch as there was not found the least blot that might bée in our Lorde Iesus Christe, he therefore beare the punishment, which we were worthie of, and deserued. And marke besides, why the Prophet addeth, that God woulde make him subiect to infirmities. This worde Infirmitie, hath a large scope in the Scriptures, for it importeth all the thinges which make men contemptible, as wée sée in many places thereof. For, pouertie, sicknesse, griefe of minde, or contemptiblenesse, and a man that hath no good grace either to speake or do well, neyther yet good gesture or behauiour, nor habiltie of wit and discretion, are al called in the Scripture infirmities. To bée shorte, this is to bryng vs backe to the thing which the Prophet hath already touched: to wit, that our Lorde Iesus Christe was like a deformed Creature, and suche a one as in whom was no shew of reputation and credit amongst men. And yet not such a one neither, but that there appeared in him, sure and certaine markes and tokēs, that he was to bée honored as the onely Sonne of God: