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, let us here note, that when we speak of faith, it is to this end to bring us back to the Gospel: for (as I have already said) here are two kinds of righteousness. For we are said to be justified by the law, whenas we have fulfilled all whatsoever God hath commanded us therein. Now, it is impossible to come to the perfection thereof and therefore we see that we are bare of this righteousness, and utterly cut of from it.

Now, let vs héere note, yt when we speake of faith, it is to this end to bring vs back to the Gospell: for (as I haue already saide) héere are two kindes of righteousnesse. For we are saide to be iustified by the law, whenas wee haue fulfilled all whatsoeuer God hath commaunded vs therein. Now, it is impossible to come to the perfection thereof and therefore wée sée that wée are bare of this righteousnesse, and vtterly cut of from it.

There is also another kind of righteousness, and that is the righteousness of Jesus Christ, for after we have been throughly examined and tried, we are sure to be found guilty of malice and wickedness, so that we must needs be afeard, because we feel God to be so armed in wrath against us, as that he doth nothing else but thunder out vengeance upon us to throw us down into the pit of hell. And therefore, when we are driven to this so great an extremity, behold how Christ granteth us a remedy to mitigate and assuage all our sorrows: which is this, he certifieth us, that he him self alone will be altogether sufficient to bring us the saving health which he hath purchased for us. Thus we see, that we are justified, by faith, wherefore we may perceive that the Prophet speaketh after the self same manner that Saint Paul spake, after his time, that is, he maketh us in the first place to come unto the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, beholding him crucified for our sakes, and besides, that we are assured by the Gospel that whatsoever Jesus Christ did and suffered, belongeth and is to be applied to us at this day, because the Father would not have this his death to be unprofitable: but that it should be a Sacrifice full of power and effect, to fructify daily in us. And this is the sum of that which we have, to remember out of this place. But by the way, let us here note, that this knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ is no vain thing: as many, when the knowledge of the Gospel is told them of, understand it, for they think it sufficient, if they do but slightly conceive of that which is taught: but we are taught to take our Lord Jesus to be the only cause of our salvation.