A17690:494
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.
Thus we see what we have to note in this saying. Now, ⟨image 156⟩it is said, that Jesus Christ showed him self unto his Apostles, and in showing him self, He spake of the kingdom of God amongst them. But here we are to understand, what it is that Saint Luke meaneth by the kingdom of God: he meaneth not by this kingdom of God, everlasting life, as we commonly take it, and as at the first sight, it might here be taken, as who should say, That, that, is the kingdom of God, which we wait for, through hope. But Saint Luke taketh it to be the spiritual government, by which Jesus Christ holdeth us in his obedience, until he hath wholly reformed us unto his own Image, and having despoiled us of this mortal body, sendeth us to heaven. And this is the very meaning of S. Luke: But to make the matter more easy and plain, let us take the kingdom of God clean contrary: and that is this, the life of men, which follow their corrupt nature. And in deed, if Jesus Christ should go from us, and let us go whether we listed our selves, surely we should be quite & clean out of the kingdom of God. For by the kingdom of God, is meant a reformation: and we bring nothing with us but miseries & corruptions in this world: to be short, we are wandering beasts, and the Devil ruleth us, and so, thralleth us, even as it pleaseth him self.
Thus we sée what wée haue to note in this saying. Nowe, ⟨image 156⟩it is saide, that Iesus Christ shewed him selfe vnto his Apostles, and in shewing him selfe, Hee spake of the kingdome of God amongst them. But héere we are to vnderstande, what it is that Saint Luke meaneth by the kingdome of God: hée meaneth not by this kingdome of God, euerlasting life, as we commonly take it, and as at the first sight, it might here be taken, as who shoulde say, That, that, is the kingdome of God, which we wayte for, through hope. But Saint Luke taketh it to bee the spirituall gouernment, by whiche Iesus Christe holdeth vs in his obedience, vntill hée hath wholly refourmed vs vnto his owne Image, and hauing dispoyled vs of this mortal body, sendeth vs to heauen. And this is the very meaning of S. Luke: But to make the matter more easie and plaine, let vs take the kingdome of God cleane contrarie: and that is this, the life of men, which follow their corrupt nature. And in déede, if Iesus Christ should goe from vs, and let vs goe whether we listed our selues, surely we should be quite & clean out of the kingdome of God. For by the kingdom of God, is meant a reformation: and we bring nothing with vs but miseries & corruptions in this worlde: to be short, we are wandring beasts, and the Deuill ruleth vs, and so, thralleth vs, euen as it pleaseth him selfe.