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…

Again, we are on the other side as cold as may be. Wherefore we had need to be inflamed with the love of GOD: and where we are wholly given to the world, let us look up into heaven, which must be brought to pass by his word. Thus we see, to what purpose this history serveth us at this day: In the first place, it is to the end we might receive the doctrine of the Gospel, as a certain and undoubted truth: because it beareth about with it the mark of God, is sealed with his holy spirit, and is also an excellent testimony of our adoption. We see then how we are brought to obedience, by reason that God hath allowed, and confirmed his Gospel, to the end our faith should not be changeable, and we become wavering, for the altering of our mind and opinion: But that we should go on continually in the right way, until such time as we have finished our course. Here we see how by the power of the spirit of God our faith shall overcome the world.¹ For (as we have already said, and as S. Paul also saith) if we should build upon the wisdom of men, what should become of it? But so long as we have the spirit of God for our ground work, let us be sure never to be shaken. In the mean while, we have to consider with our selves, because God maketh us at this day Partakers of the thing which we have of late declared: that is, let us call upon him with one accord (although I say we are divided in tongues) & besides let us become new men through the doctrine which is preached unto us: in such sort as that we might know, that there is fire in it to change and cleanse our minds, wits, & hearts, from all the corruptions of this world. For although Gods chosen people are brought home again by the mean of the Gospel, yet see we the enemies of the truth become more cruel and rebellious, so that it is even sufficient to set all the world together by the ears, as by experience at this day may be seen. For during the time that the Gospel was not preached, all the world lived carelessly and quietly: and there were not many questions nor disputations. And how so? Forsooth because the devil then reigned without gainsaying. But when our Lord Jesus appeared with the pure doctrine of the Gospel, what skirmishing was there forthwith. We see also at this day, what contentions there are amongst those which bear the name of Christians.

Agayne, wée are on the other side as colde as may bée. Wherefore wée had néede to bée enflambed with the loue of GOD: and where wée are wholly geuē to the world, let vs looke vp into heauē, which must bée brought to passe by his word. Thus we sée, to what purpose this historie serueth vs at this day: In the first place, it is to the end we might receiue the doctrine of the Gospel, as a certain and vndoubted truth: because it beareth about with it the marke of God, is sealed with his holy spirite, and is also an excellent testimonie of our adoption. Wée sée then how we are brought to obedience, by reason that God hath allowed, and confirmed his Gospel, to the ende our faith shoulde not be changeable, and wée become wauering, for the altering of our mynde and opinion: But that wée shoulde goe on continually in the right way, vntil such time as we haue finished our course. Here we sée howe by the power of the spirite of God our faith shal ouercome the worlde.