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…

for he setteth down these two points together, saying, Since the spirit of God hath spoken by his holy Prophets, we for our parts also, when we would understand that, which is delivered unto us by their doctrine, ought to lay aside our own natural reason, & fantasies, in saying, It seemeth thus to me, & I think so: & soberly & discreetly, beseech the Lord to govern, and lead us by his holy spirit unto the understanding ⟨image 184⟩of his word, whereof he him self is Author. And thus much for this: now, forsomuch as, at this day we see, how the Devil hath filled the world with a number of Sects, so that there are many heretics which cease not to trouble and infect the purity of the Gospel: and besides, since there are such a sort of contemners of God, and of Mastiff Curs, in whom is neither faith nor yet religion: so much the rather had we need, continually to offer our selves before the Lord, to the end he might enlighten us with his trueth, and we to be so united unto our Lord Jesus Christ, as that nothing may be able to separate us from him. And again, let us beseech him to grant us a stout and constant mind unto the end: Because, that although the enemies of the truth be never so fierce, yet that we may notwithstanding persevere & continue still therein, that Satan thereby might be vanquished. Neither must we be careful only for our selves, but also, think of others. In deed, it is an easy matter for us here at this day, to make confession of our faith: for we see not the bright stambing fires before us, as our poor brethren do, neither do we hear the terrible threats wherewith they are threatened, nor yet feel we the tempests & garboils that •ight upon their heads: & yet are we the members of one body. Now, what is the reason why we thus assemble our selves together, but to the end we might be joined together in a true brotherhood, since God of his infinite goodness hath adopted us for his children, & daily witnesseth unto us, that he will be our Father? And therefore it is good reason that we should be careful for these who are as it were, in the Wolfs chaps, & daily feel strange troubles: let us have this compassion upon them at the least, as to beseech the lord to succour and strengthen them in all their conflicts, so far forth as shall be needful: and not suffer them to be confounded:

for he setteth down these two pointes together, saying, Since the spirite of God hath spoken by his holy Prophets, we for our parts also, when wée wold vnderstand that, which is deliuered vnto vs by their doctrine, ought to lay aside our owne naturall reason, & fantasies, in saying, It séemeth thus to mée, & I thinke so: & soberly & discréetly, beséech the Lorde to gouerne, and lead vs by his holie spirite vnto the vnderstanding