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 said, for a final conclusion, That the will of God shall prosper in his hands. The words which the Prophet here useth, signifieth a worldly will, and free favour: For, it were not enough that our Lord Jesus Christ should execute the will of God: But that it should be a will proceeding of love, as a testimony of his fatherly affection. For, Moses executed the will of God when he published the law: and yet notwithstanding every man was afeard at the thunders & lightnings: for there was nothing else but threatenings of death. And why so? Forsooth, because the law brought nothing else with it but wrath and vengeance. For, it was meet that the world should feel in it an horrible condemnation,¹ & be wonderfully afeard. Howbeit, there appeared an other manner of will of God, in Jesus Christ: & that is this, his meaning was to receive us unto himself, & to have mercy upon us, to abolish our sins, & to discharge us of the condemnation wherein we were. Thus we see the property of the speech which the Prophet here useth, when he saith, That the will of God should prosper. Now it is by & by after said, in his hands, which signifieth, that Jesus Christ should be a distributer and bestower of the grace of God for our salvation. True it is, that God might by some other death have delivered us from death, howbeit it was not his meaning, neither yet was it so good. And therefore he appointed our Lord Jesus Christ, to the end we might by him, be redeemed and reconciled: and to be short, that by him we might obtain whatsoever was requisite for our salvation.

Nowe, it is saide, for a finall conclusion, That the will of God shall prosper in his handes. The wordes which the Prophet heere vseth, signifieth a worldly will, and frée fauour: For, it were not enough that our Lord Iesus Christ should execute the will of God: But that it shoulde be a will procéeding of loue, as a testimony of his fatherly affection. For, Moses executed the will of God when hée published the lawe: and yet notwithstanding euerie man was afeard at the thunders & lightnings: for there was nothing els but threatnings of death. And why so? Forsooth, because the law brought nothing els with it but wrath and vengeance. For, it was méet that the world should féele in it an horrible condemnation,¹ & be wonderfully afeard. Howbeit, there appeared an other maner of wil of God, in Iesus Christ: & that is this, his meaning was to receiue vs vnto himself, & to haue mercy vpō vs, to abolish our sins, & to discharge vs of the condemnation wherein we were. Thus we sée ye propertie of the spéech which the Prophet here vseth, when he saith, That ye wil of God should prosper. Now it is by & by after said, in his hands, which signifieth, yt Iesus Christ should be a distributer and bestower of the grace of God for our saluation. True it is, that God might by some other death haue deliuered vs from death, howbeit it was not his meaning, neyther yet was it so good. And therefore hée appointed our Lord Iesus Christ, to the ende wée might by him, be redéemed and reconcyled: and to bée short, that by him wée might obtayne whatsoeuer was requisite for our saluation.