A17690:495
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 man is, until God hath reformed him. Wherefore, let us take out this lesson, to know what we are, until such time as Jesus Christ hath reformed us. Why then? would we have a greater mischief then this, as to have Satan so to possess us, and to be our Master? And thus, I say, we see what we are, until such time as God of his infinite goodness, stretcheth forth his hand unto us, even to bring us into his kingdom, that we might be obedient unto him, and to his justice. Now, by the way, we are also to see, how highly we ought to esteem of this grace when it is offered us, and that Jesus Christ draweth us unto him. And lo here is all our blessedness, that God is our King. In deed, although Kings covet to have kingdoms to increase their honour and wealth, and to be Lords over nations, without any regard to a better end, yet if any Prince be endued with excellent graces, every man will think him self blessed that is his subject. But when Jesus Christ reigneth over us, we have a king that is not only endued with many excellent graces, but also who reigneth over ⟨p. 150⟩us for our benefit. And to say the trueth, he is no whit bettered by us: for we can no more increase, then we can diminish.1 Thus we see, that the thing which I have already said, is very true, That we are blessed, when as God setteth up his kingly throne amongst us, to reign over us. Here we see what we are taught in the second place, to wit, to esteem and make much, of such a benefit when God bestoweth it upon us: now, the mean cometh by the Gospel. We also see, why Jesus Christ spake so oftentimes of the Gospel,2 calling it the kingdom of God: For if we stick not to it, we are very rebels to God, and banished from all his graces: For we shall never have part of them, until we be reformed. Which thing the Gospel worketh by calling us to Jesus Christ, and showing us that we must be regenerate by his holy spirit. Since then it is so, when the Gospel is preached, it is to the end we might be like unto Jesus Christ, & forsake whatsoever is in our selves, that we might be raised up again by his grace: And therefore the Gospel is not called the kingdom of God without good cause. And in deed, as without it the Devil reigneth, and by reason thereof is called the King of this world: