A17690:530
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, we see that the world hath received this doctrine very perniciously: for the Papists think, that the grace of God is tied to it, and they charm it like Conjurers, giving to the water, the power of the Sacrament. And therefore they say, that that child that is not baptized, is damned. Wherefore, for the preventing of this danger, they are not only contented to give power & authority to all men, of what state and condition soever they be, to baptize, but even to women also: for fear, say they, that the children might die without baptism. And so, they think that the truth of baptism consisteth in the water: so that by this mean the blood of Jesus Christ is laid clean aside. But as for us, let us learn, that the truth of baptism is not in the water, but in the holy Ghost. And yet is not the sign unprofitable: for it witnesseth unto us that our souls are washed: But if we will have the truth of it, we must come to the holy Ghost as we have already showed.
Moreouer, wée sée that the worlde hath receiued this doctrine very perniciously: for the Papistes thinke, that the grace of God is tyed to it, and they charme it like Coniurers, geuing to the water, the power of the Sacrament. And therefore they say, that that childe that is not baptized, is damned. Wherefore, for the preuenting of this danger, they are not onely contented to geue power & authoritie to all men, of what state and condition soeuer they bée, to baptize, but euen to women also: for feare, say they, that the children might die without baptisme. And so, they think that the truth of baptisme consisteth in the water: so that by this meane the blood of Iesus Christ is layde cleane aside. But as for vs, let vs learne, that ye truth of baptisme is not in the water, but in the holy Ghost. And yet is not the signe vnprofitable: for it witnesseth vnto vs that our soules are washed: But if wée wil haue the truth of it, we must come to the holie Ghost as wée haue already shewed.
Moreover, it is said, that Jesus Christ giveth the holy Ghost to the end we should neither seek for it in the water, nor yet at the hands of men, but look up unto heaven. And this is also a point wherewith the world hath been deceived. For who is he that looketh to Jesus Christ, when we speak of any thing concerning our salvation? No man: For we think it to be in the power of men, as if Jesus Christ had resigned his office unto them, & that he had no more to do in heaven: See I pray you, how blockish we are. Now the Scripture choketh us by the chin (as we say) to make us look aloft: for in it, is the thing which we hear Jesus Christ teach us, behold, it is I that baptizeth you. I grant, it is said that God sendeth the holy Ghost: and so doeth Jesus Christ also: