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…

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.

Moreouer, this is certaine, that whē Iohn said that Iesus Christ should baptize with the holie Ghost and with fire, this doth not restrain,¹ but that the holy Ghost did once appeare in the same shape: For this promise hath byn already performed, and shal take place vnto the worldes end. Let vs then consider, yt when the holy Ghost was visibly sent vnto the Apostles, it was to signifie vnto vs, yt the Church should bée alwayes gouerned by the holie Ghost, & should fill vs with so many of his graces as were néedfull. In very déede, we shal neuer haue them in ful perfection, because it is néedful that we should be humbled. For if wée shoulde haue them in ful perfection, what would become of vs? Surely, we would neuer haue anie care to call vpon God, neither yet once thinke that wée stoode in néede of him. And therefore it is méete wée shoulde alwayes féele the want of his benefites, to the end wée might bée stirred vp to beséech him liberally to bestow them on vs. But by the way, let vs vnderstand that wée are all baptized with the holy Ghost and with fire: and that Iesus Christ will in no wise that his Sacramentes should bée receiued in vayne of his faithful ones. In déed, although a man bée baptized in the name of God, yet when hée commeth to age, wée sée him enclined to all mischiefe, and therefore wée cannot say that hée is a new man, but rather like a bruite beast. And yet wée cannot say, but that the Sacrament had his full nature and proprietie: For baptisme of it selfe is as much as if we were renued: and then if wée bée not so, the fault is oures: because wee will not suffer Iesus Christ to accomplishe his grace in vs, and so for want of beliefe, wée in such sort close vp our heartes, as that there is no entraunce for his graces, which hée woulde largely bestow vpon vs.