A17690:556
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.
In sum, we have here a general advertisement, that whiles God leaveth us to our own wits, we are as brutish as may be, and the least thing in the world will dull us: so that we shall not be able to understand the least parcel of scripture, although it be handled before us piecemeal. And therefore this understanding must come from God, who of his mere goodness bestoweth it upon us. For although we have the Scriptures expounded unto us, it is none otherwise then as if the Sun shined upon us, being stark blind. Wherefore, there remaineth nothing for us, but to beseech the Lord to help our ignorance.
In summe, wée haue héere a generall aduertisment, that whiles God leaueth vs to our owne wittes, we are as bruitishe as maye be, and the least thing in the world will dull vs: so that wee shall not be able to vnderstand the least percell of scripture, although it be handeled before vs péecemeale. And therfore this vnderstanding must come from God, who of his méere goodnesse bestoweth it vpon vs. For although we haue the Scriptures expounded vnto vs, it is none otherwise then as if the Sun shined vpō vs, being stark blinde. Wherfore, there remaineth nothing for vs, but to beséech the Lorde to helpe our ignoraunce.
Let us now come to the second error, which is, they would have been honourable at the first, and besides they would have lived according to their harts desire without any pains taking. Now, this is a fault which is common unto us all: for there is never ⟨image 170⟩a man in the world but desireth to reign with Jesus Christ in that everlasting kingdom which he hath promised: But when we are told of the bearing of his Cross, and of fighting against Satan, the world, and our own flesh, when we are told of this, I say, we would gladly draw our selves out of the heap. Wherefore we are so much the rather to consider of this place, to wit, that if we would be partakers of the benefits of Jesus Christ, we must even in this life set our hand to the labour.
Let vs now come to the seconde errour, which is, they woulde haue bene honorable at the first, and besides they would haue lyued according to their harts desire without any paines takinge. Now, this is a falt which is common vnto vs all: for there is neuer