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 that our Lord Jesus Christ himself refused it not, but as one forgetting himself had such care of our salvation, as that he descended into the bottomless depths of horror, to the end he would bear our curse. And therefore we are here also to consider of this point, that there is none other mean for us to be discharged before God, but to set before us the satisfaction of the Sacrifice which was offered up for us once for all. Indeed this is very true, that the world always ⟨p. 128⟩hath a meaning to devise some one thing or an other, I know not what, wherewith to pay God (as hath heretofore been said) and for example, we see what store of pretty fond trifling babbles many Papists use wherewith to appease the wrath of god For in deed, they tell us that it is impossible for us to be forgiven, without we make satisfaction: for, say they, although God of his free mercy & goodness forgiveth us the fault, yet he reserveth always the punishment, until such time as every of us hath discharged himself before him. And hereupon we see from whence cometh the foundation of Purgatory: For, because we cannot whiles we live here make satisfaction, but that there must remain always some remnant and arrearages, we must therefore, say they, bear the punishment out of this world, & that is it that must pay god. Lo here how the miserable world hath been deceived and blindly lead with the leasings and doting dreams of Satan. And therefore we are so much the rather to make an observation of this doctrine: That as God hath not set down in the Law, and said, You shall not serve me this way, and that, as pleaseth you: But placed and ordained the sacrifices, & Ceremonies contained in the Law, & thereon stay them selves without devising any new and strange kind of Service & mean to obtain favour & grace: Even so likewise must we at this day be contented with the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, because we know that that is the only mean by which God will be merciful & favourable unto us, & by which also he will receive & adopt us unto himself. Thus we namely see what it is that the Prophet meaneth to offer here unto us. Now, it is moreover said, That he will prolong his days, & that he shall see his seed to be permanent, & that the will (or pleasure) of the Lord shall prosper in his hands.

and that our Lord Iesus Christe himselfe refused it not, but as one forgetting himselfe had such care of our saluation, as that hée descended into the bottomeles depthes of horror, to the ende hee would beare our curse. And therefore wée are héere also to consider of this point, that there is none other meane for vs to be discharged before God, but to set before vs the satisfaction of the Sacrifice which was offered vp for vs once for all. Indéede this is very true, that the worlde alwaies