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 we see how God joineth the truth with the sign to the end we might understand, and know that as the visible sign signifieth a thing, even so also receive we the graces therein signified. And the like may be said of the Supper. For when we come to the supper, look how the minister distributeth to us the bread and wine, even so doth Jesus Christ make us partakers of his body & blood, that we might be truly, and indeed, his members: and by that mean, we may say that the supper is a partaking of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus. But when we shall come to handle by piece meal the thing which mortal man doth, we must then look what power and authority he hath. As when I baptise, to wit, whether have I the holy ghost in my sleeve to give or not? or when I celebrate the holy supper, have I the body & blood of our Lord Jesus, to give to whom it liketh me? Now this were over great arrogancy, to attribute that, to mortal men which properly belongeth to Jesus christ. And therefore let us not take from Jesus Christ, the office of baptising with the holy ghost. For, as I take water to baptize, even so doth Jesus Christ accomplish the thing which I signify, by his own power and might. Wherefore let us mark the saying of Saint John, I baptise with water (saith he) and Jesus Christ baptiseth with the holy ghost. Thus we see what we have here already handled, and shall be more throughly in the eleventh chapter.

Thus we sée how God ioyneth the truth with the signe to the end wée might vnderstand, and know that as the visible signe signifieth a thing, euen so also receiue we the graces therein signified. And the like may bée saide of the Supper. For when wee come to the supper, looke how the minister distributeth to vs the bread and wine, euen so doth Iesus Christ make vs partakers of his body & blood, that we might bee truly, and indéede, his members: and by that meane, we may say that the supper is a partaking of the body and blood of our Lorde Iesus. But when wee shall come to handle by péece meale the thing which mortall man doth, we must then looke what power and authoritie he hath. As when I baptise, to wit, whether haue I the holy ghost in my sléeue to giue or not? or when I celebrate the holy supper, haue I the body & blood of our Lord Iesus, to giue to whom it liketh mée? Now this were ouer great arrogancy, to attribute that, to mortall men which properly belongeth to Iesus christ. And therfore let vs not take from Iesus Christ, the office of baptising with the holy ghost. For, as I take water to baptize, euen so doth Iesus Christ accomplishe the thinge which I signifie, by his owne power and might. Wherefore let vs mark the saying of Saint Iohn, I baptise with water (saith hée) and Iesus Christ baptiseth with the holy ghost. Thus we sée what we haue héere already handled, and shal be more throughly in the eleuenth chapter.