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…

Now, we see by the way, what scope and elbow room the Devil hath all Europe over: for there, all his leasings, deceits, and illusions are received: and the world is so bewitched, as that it is impossible to bring it again in frame. We see how men do not only set them selves against God, & wittingly blaspheme him, but also are furiously inflamed, that a man would think they would pull the Sun out of heaven, & take his light from him. Now, when we see all this gear, we had need join our selves again unto our head, Christ Jesus our Lord. For, what is the cause of this contempt and ungodliness, & of so many rebellions & mockeries in the world, but because grace is not granted to all men to be led under this excellent Shepherd, whom God his father hath appointed for us. And we know that they whom he keepeth, shall never perish, as he himself hath said.¹ Wherefore, let us submit our selves unto our lord Jesus Christ, if we will feel the benefit & accomplishment of the thing which S. Luke here speaketh of, to our salvation: to wit, that God doth not only speak to our ears, & his voice resound in the air: But his doctrine also, pierceth our hearts, that we might be so inflamed, parboiled, & renewed, as that we might cast away the corruptions of this world: So that, as we would be taken & allowed for his people, we might in trueth call upon our God in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto whom we are conjoined, to this end, that he might perfectly unite us unto God his father. And therefore behold why this holy Table is at this present made ready for us. For, as I have before said, we cannot possibly be partakers of any of the graces of the holy Ghost, but by being the members of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, how can we attain thereto, without he offer himself unto us, & biddeth us upon such a condition, as truly joineth us unto him: and he so dwelleth in us, as that whatsoever he hath, is ours, whereby we might enjoy the benefits which were granted to him in our name:² It is said in the prophecy of Isaiah, That the spirit of God rested on him: howbeit, it was not, because he had any need of the same, nor yet for his own private use: But it was for the benefit of his whole body: to wit, the whole Church.

Now, we sée by the way, what scope and elbow roome the Deuill hath all Europe ouer: for there, all his leasings, deceits, and illusions are receiued: and the world is so bewitched, as that it is impossible to bring it againe in frame. We sée how men doe not onely set them selues against God, & wittingly blaspheme him, but also are furiously enflamed, that a man woulde thinke they would pull the Sonne out of heauen, & take his light from him. Now, when we sée all this geare, we had need ioyne our selues againe vnto our head, Christ Iesus our Lord. For, what is the cause of this cōtempt and vngodlines, & of so many rebellions & mockeries in the world, but because grace is not graunted to all men to be ledde vnder this excellent Shepheard, whom God his father hath appointed for vs. And we know that they whō he kéepeth, shall neuer perish, as hée himself hath said.