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…

When he spake of the people of God, it was to show that those whom a man would think to be most excellent & righteous, had need of forgiveness of sins, which they could never have had, had it not been that Jesus Christ had shed his most precious heart blood for the washing & cleansing of them. And thus much then for this point: That if we would be of the Church, & be allowed to be of the congregation of God, we must needs understand, that it is because Jesus Christ is our redeemer, and therefore let us not fear to come in great companies to him, & rather then fail let every one bring his neighbour with him, because he is able to save ⟨image 150⟩us all. Moreover, it is here set down, that we are all transgressors to the end we might throughly consider of our sins: For we know our selves to be so bold and rash, as that we will oftentimes be more shamefast & sober in requiring of any thing at the hands of a mortal man, than we will be when we come before the Majesty of god. Now the Prophet, here pulleth down all the Peacocks plumbs, when he calleth us transgressors: as if he should have said, O you cursed & wicked ones, what are you that dare presume to call upon God by the name of father? From whence have you this dignity? What is he ye dareth once enterprise to come before the presence of the Majesty of god, and say, I am one of thy children? Away (saith he) and go hide your selves, for you are all malefactors, and in coming before God, you come before your Judge, and therefore you ought to tremble & be utterly ashamed. Howbeit the only remedy to assure your selves is this, that when you call upon the name of God, you have an invincible defence by the power & intercession of the Mediator. For without him there is no hope of your salvation, but are altogether dead in your sins. And therefore understand you, that you had need have the son of God to be between you & him, & to make intercession for you, by playing the Priests part. We see then here why the Prophet namely calleth us all trespassers & transgressors, to wit, to the end we might know that the gate is shut upon us, & are unworthy to come near unto God: and that we are all oppressed & confounded, if we run not to that help: For without this remedy, we must needs perish and rot in our wretchedness and miseries.

When he spake of the people of God, it was to shewe that those whom a man would thinke to be most excellent & righteous, had néede of forgiuenesse of sinnes, which they could neuer haue had, had it not béen that Iesus Christe had shed his most precious heart blood for the washing & cleansing of them. And thus muche then for this point: That if we would be of the Church, & be allowed to be of the congregation of God, we must néedes vnderstand, yt it is because Iesus Christ is our redéemer, and therefore let vs not feare to come in great companies to him, & rather then faile let euery one bring his neighbour with him, because he is able to saue