A17690:436
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…
Divers sermons of Master John Calvin, concerning the divinity, humanity, and nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ as also touching his passion, death, resurrection, ascension: together with the coming down of the holy Ghost upon his Apostles: and the first sermon of S. Peter. The order of which you shall find in the page ensuing.Diuers sermons of Master Iohn Caluin, concerning the diuinitie, humanitie, and natiuitie of our Lorde Iesus Christe as also touching his passion, death, resurection, ascention: togeather with the comming downe of the holy Ghoste vpon his Apostles: and the first sermon of S. Peter. The order of which you shall finde in the page ensuing.
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for George Byshop, 1581
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Wherefore let us thus conclude, that the whole world is condemned of sin, and God showeth us that we are all accursed, when as it is said, that we must come unto our Lord Jesus Christ. And thus much for this point. Now, to say the trueth, the ancient Philosophers spake thus much of virtue: and this hath been always a common opinion, that God will accept of us for our good life and conversation: But what are we the better for all this? For there was nothing but hypocrisy in the best livers, and in such as was thought could in no wise be touched: and as for the rest, they were altogether given to wickedness: But to speak of those who were thought of all others to be the most able and renowned people, were notwithstanding infected with very grievous sins.
Wherefore let vs thus conclude, that the whole worlde is condemned of sinne, and God sheweth vs that wee are all accursed, when as it is saide, that wee must come vnto our Lorde Iesus Christ. And thus much for this point. Now, to say the trueth, the auncient Philosophers spake thus much of vertue: and this hath béene alwayes a common opinion, that God will accept of vs for our good life and conuersation: But what are wee the better for all this? For there was nothing but hypocrisie in the best liuers, and in such as was thought coulde in no wise be touched: and as for the rest, they were altogether giuen to wickednesse: But to speake of those who were thought of all others to bée the most able and renowmed people, were notwithstanding infected with verie gréeuous sinnes.
And therefore let men presume as much as they lust, and think how they will to live virtuously, yet when they have done all they can, and set down many laws and rules for their government, they shall never be able to be justified before God by that mean. And why so? Forsooth, because sin hath taken such deep root in us, as that it cannot be pulled out of us by mans help. To be short, we shall never be justified by going to School with men, although they teach never so much what virtue is. And that which is more, Behold, God publisheth the law wherein is true and perfect righteousness: for mark what Moses sayeth, Behold, sayeth he, I pronounce at this day both good and evil: I show unto thee the way both of life and death. But by the way, can we be justified by it? Can it so order us, as that God will take our life to be good and holy?