A17690:527
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.
Moreover, it is for us thus to make answer: to wit,1 that we cannot fulfil the things, whereof we make a show. And yet nevertheless, we must assure our selves this, that God accomplisheth that, which is signified by the sign: and as by the water, is signified the washing away of sins, even so doth he accomplish it by his blood. And thus we see how we must distinguish between the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the person of the Minister, to the end ⟨image 164⟩every man might have his degree and measure, and we to know, that Jesus Christ is the fountain of all perfection.
Moreouer, it is for vs thus to make aunswer: to witte,1 that wée cannot fulfyl the things, wherof we make a shew. And yet neuerthelesse, we must assure our selues this, that God accomplisheth yt, which is signified by the signe: and as by ye water, is signified the washing away of sinnes, euen so doth he accomplish it by his blood. And thus we sée how we must distinguish betwéene the person of our Lord Iesus Christ, and the person of the Minister, to the ende ⟨image 164⟩euery man might haue his degrée and measure, and wée to know, that Iesus Christ is the fountaine of all perfection.
Moreover, this is certain, that when John said that Jesus Christ should baptize with the holy Ghost and with fire, this doth not restrain,1 but that the holy Ghost did once appear in the same shape: For this promise hath bin already performed, and shall take place unto the worlds end. Let us then consider, that when the holy Ghost was visibly sent unto the Apostles, it was to signify unto us, that the Church should be always governed by the holy Ghost, & should fill us with so many of his graces as were needful. In very deed, we shall never have them in full perfection, because it is needful that we should be humbled. For if we should have them in full perfection, what would become of us? Surely, we would never have any care to call upon God, neither yet once think that we stood in need of him. And therefore it is meet we should always feel the want of his benefits, to the end we might be stirred up to beseech him liberally to bestow them on us. But by the way, let us understand that we are all baptized with the holy Ghost and with fire: and that Jesus Christ will in no wise that his Sacraments should be received in vain of his faithful ones. In deed, although a man be baptized in the name of God, yet when he cometh to age, we see him inclined to all mischief, and therefore we cannot say that he is a new man, but rather like a brute beast. And yet we cannot say, but that the Sacrament had his full nature and propriety: For baptism of it self is as much as if we were renewed: and then if we be not so, the fault is ours: because we will not suffer Jesus Christ to accomplish his grace in us, and so for want of belief, we in such sort close up our hearts, as that there is no entrance for his graces, which he would largely bestow upon us.