A17690:610
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.
For if we seek for the cause, why there are so many languages in the world, we must needs confess it to be the curse of God, and yet herein appeareth his wonderful fatherly goodness and mercy, to have the glad tidings of everlasting life to be carried through the world in all languages. Thus we see how God hath converted evil into good. And therefore we have hereby the more to glorify and bless his holy name, because we know that the diversity of tongues have not letted him to declare unto all the world that he meaneth to receive all such as had before estranged them selves from him, and thrust them all, as it were into his bosom, until such time as he hath brought them together into the heavenly inheritance. And thus much for this. Howbeit, this were not enough to have the Gospel preached, and to have God to be known all the world over, without this doctrine had forthwith power, lively to touch mens hearts, that they might be brought to obedience. This then was the cause why the fiery tongues appeared. Yea verily, For in the first place, we had need to be purged, because we are altogether corrupt and defiled. For let our minds be searched, our affections and desires examined, and they will be found altogether soul and stinking. And therefore we must be as men new parboiled, that God might purge us after a strange manner.
For if we séeke for the cause, why there are so many languages in the worlde, we must néedes confesse it to be the curse of God, and yet herein appeareth his wonderfull fatherly goodnesse and mercy, to haue the glad tydinges of euerlasting life to be caried through ye world in all languages. Thus we sée howe God hath conuerted euill into good. And therefore we haue hereby the more to glorifie and blesse his holy name, because wee knowe that the diuersitie of tongues haue not letted him to declare vnto all the worlde that hée meaneth to receiue all such as had before estraunged them selues from him, and thrust them all, as it were into his bosome, vntill suche time as hée hath brought them together into the heauenly enheritance. And thus much for this. Howbeit, this were not enough to haue the Gospell preached, and to haue God to be knowne all the world ouer, without this doctrine had foorthwith power, liuely to touch mens heartes, that they might be brought to obedience. This then was the cause why the fyrie tongues appeared. Yea verely, For in the first place, we had néede to be purged, because we are altogether corrupt and defiled. For let our mindes be searched, our affections and desires examined, and they will be founde altogether soule and stinking. And therefore we must be as men new perboyled, that God might purge vs after a straunge maner.