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…

Thus then we see how we are justified by the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. And according to this doctrine, we see in the first place, that we must not seek far for our righteousness, because we shall find it in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, in that he is clothed with our nature, & is become our brother: & this is a matter of great importance: for if we should be justified by the divine essence or nature of our lord Jesus Christ, we must needs be far of from his righteousness, and we were never able to come near it. But when we are told that the righteousness which he bestoweth on us, was fulfilled in his humane nature: mark then how much more familiarly we may come unto him. Consider also why Satan would so fain confound this doctrine, and there are likewise some fantastical spirits, which fondly dream that our Lord Jesus Christ, as he is God, justifieth the faithful. But we must (as I have already said) seek for our righteousness very far of, & that were enough to make us fainthearted, & to make us also vanish away before we came at him. But contrariwise, as he is a mortal man, he calleth us unto himself, and made himself a Mediator, because we might seek for our righteousness therein. And this is a point worthy the observation: & besides, let us always come unto this knowledge. And because the faithless shut the gate upon themselves, and so spoil themselves of the benefit which they should receive by our Lord Jesus Christ, let us therefore be diligent to receive the testimony which is given unto us by the Gospel. We bring you (saith S Paul) the Ambassade in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, beseeching you to reconcile yourselves unto God. S. Paul setteth down a double reconciliation,¹ the one is, the sacrifice which our Lord Jesus Christ made for us in his own person, the other is that which we daily obtain through faith, when as GOD telleth us, that although we have moved him to anger, yet is he continually ready to forget our faults, and tread them under his feet, so that we make account of the benefit which he offereth us.

Thus then we sée how we are iustified by the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ. And according to this doctrine, wée sée in ye first place, yt we must not séeke far for our righteousnes, because we shal find it in the persō of our Lord Iesus Christ, in yt he is clothed with our nature, & is become our brother: & this is a matter of great importāce: for if we should be iustified by ye diuine essēce or nature of our lord Iesus Christ, we must néeds be far of frō his righteousnes, and wee were neuer able to come néere it. But when we are tolde that the righteousnesse which he bestoweth on vs, was fulfilled in his humane nature: marke then howe much more familiarly wee may come vnto him. Cōsider also why Satā would so fain cōfound this doctrine, and there are likewise some fantastical spirits, which fondly dreame that our Lord Iesus Christ, as he is God, iustifieth the faithful. But wee must (as I haue already saide) séeke for our righteousnes very farre of, & that were ynough to make vs fainthearted, & to make vs also vanish away before wee came at him. But cōtrariwise, as he is a mortal mā, he calleth vs vnto himselfe, and made himself a Mediator, because we might séeke for our righteousnes therein. And this is a point worthy the obseruation: & besides, let vs alwayes come vnto this knowledge. And because the faithlesse shut the gate vpon themselues, and so spoyle thēselues of the benefit which they should receiue by our Lord Iesus Christ, let vs therfore be diligēt to receiue the testimonie which is geuē vnto vs by the Gospel. We bring you (saith S Paule) the Ambassade in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christ, beséeching you to reconcile yourselues vnto God. S. Paule setteth downe a double reconciliation,