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…

Wherefore, when we shall have known all this, we shall have greatly profited not only for a day, but also all the days of our life. For to say the trueth, it is a doctrine wherewith we must so acquaint our selves, as that although we think we know it well enough, yet that we must not cease more & more to conform our selves thereto. And for yt more lively expressing here of, see why the prophet goeth on further and saith, That he will make his soul an offering for sin: to wit, that Jesus Christ will forget his own life for the redeeming of our lives, & the price of our sins and iniquities. Here the Prophet again setteth before us the willing obedience of the Son of God: For, as he hath said, that as it was the will of the father he should be afflicted, even so likewise he now saith, that the Son yielded himself willingly thereto, thrusting himself forward to become a Sacrifice without force or constraint. For, the common manner of offering up of Sacrifices unto the Lord God, was always done of a frank will and devotion. And therefore it must necessarily fall out that our Lord Jesus Christ should yield and offer up himself to the death, which he suffered. For, without that, (as yesterday was declared) our rebellions had never been repaired before God: But when he offered up his soul, to wit, that he was prest and ready to suffer the condemnation that we deserved, in this we may see, that we have by his death full assurance of salvation. And this he himself saith in the Gospel after Saint John, No man,¹ saith he, shall take away my life, but I will freely offer it up my self. In deed, his life was taken from him when he was crucified, and we see also how ungently & furiously they dealt with him that crucified him. Howbeit they could never have done any thing against him, do the best they had could, without it had been so before ordained by the sacred decree & appointment of God the father, as hath been already alleged out of the Acts,² where it is said. That they did nothing but that which the hand and counsel of God had ordained. But over and besides all this, our Lord Jesus Christ was contented & well pleased with the sentence & judgement that was given upon him for our sakes. Now the prophet setteth it namely down that it was, for sin.

Wherefore, when wée shall haue knowne all this, we shall haue greatly profited not onely for a day, but also all the dayes of our life. For to say the trueth, it is a doctrine wherewith wee must so acquaint our selues, as that although we thinke we know it wel enough, yet yt we must not cease more & more to cōforme our selues thereto. And for yt more liuely expressing héere of, sée why the prophet goeth on further and saith, That hee will make his soule an offering for sin: to wit, that Iesus Christ will forget his own life for the redéeming of our liues, & the price of our sinnes and iniquities. Héere the Prophet againe setteth before vs the willing obedience of the Sonne of God: For, as hee hath saide, that as it was the will of the father hee shoulde bee afflicted, euen so likewise hée nowe saith, that the Sonne yéelded himselfe willingly thereto, thrusting himselfe forwarde to become a Sacrifice without force or constraint. For, the common maner of offering vp of Sacrifices vnto the Lorde God, was alwayes done of a francke will and deuotion. And therfore it must necessarily fall out that our Lorde Iesus Christe shoulde yéelde and offer vp himselfe to the death, which he suffered. For, without that, (as yesterday was declared) our rebellions had neuer béen repared before God: But when he offered vp his soule, to wit, that he was prest and redy to suffer the condemnation that we deserued, in this we may sée, that we haue by his death full assurance of saluation. And this he himselfe saith in the Gospell after Saint Iohn, No mā,