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 therefore knowledge is very requisite. For how many incredulous or unbelieving persons do we see perish, unto whom ⟨image 141⟩the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, serveth to none other purpose, save only for their greater condemnation, because they tread his most holy and precious blood under their feet, and utterly refuse his grace which he offereth unto them.¹ And so, although our Lord Jesus Christ be like unto the Serpent which was set up in the wilderness, for the healing of all diseases, yet can we for our parts receive no profit by him, except we know him. For, as it was meet also that the brazen Serpent should be looked on in the wilderness, and without which looking on, the biting or stinging of the Serpents was always deadly: Even so at this day, is the Gospel unto us as a Scaffold whereon to set up our Lord Jesus Christ: or else like a Banner to represent him unto our eyes,² that we might see him a great way of. To be short, The preaching of the Gospel (as Saint Paul sayeth) is not dark: For we may in it behold the grace of God, appearing in our Lord Jesus Christ, or else the Devil hath blindfolded our eyes. But how ever it is, we are throughly to consider of that which is here spoken, that Jesus Christ justifieth not but by his knowledge. In deed it is most true, that the very substance of our salvation must come from thence: For, when it is said, that we are justified by Faith, this is not to exclude Jesus Christ, neither yet the mercies of God, but rather to lead us and bring us unto them. But to the end we might the easelyer come to the understanding hereof, we are to consider in the first place, that we are not righteous of our selves, since we must borrow it of some other: For if we were able so to rule and order our life, that it might be all in all answerable unto the law, and will of God, then in deed we deserved that he should accept us. And why so? Forsooth, because he is to allow of the good, since he is the fountain thereof: for else, he should deny him self. And therefore if we could frame our lives to agree with the law of God, and be so perfect as he requireth, we should then without doubt, be justified by our works, and Jesus Christ (as Saint Paul saith) should profit us nothing.

And therefore knowledge is verie requisite. For how many incredulous or vnbeléeuing persons doe we sée perishe, vnto whom