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…

We see then, how that our Lord is not so ready to pour out his vengeance, but that he pardoneth all those which have recourse unto his goodness and mercy. For he is always near unto them,¹ which truly call upon him. Now this hath continually been the common vain of the Prophets, that when they would comfort poor sinners, they would bring them to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. And it was not without cause: for take us from Jesus Christ, and then, what shall we find in God? Surely we shall find such an excellency and highness in him, as shall throw down all creatures into the bottomless depth: because that when we are come to the knowledge of our selves, we shall find nothing in us, save sin and iniquity: to present our selves before the majesty of so great and mighty a Judge, we can by no means possible look for any other thing, then the justice and rigour of his vengeance, prepared for us by reason of our iniquities. And I beseech you, which of us in deed shall be able to exempt him self from out of the number of sinners, that he may be bold to say, he had not need have recourse unto the knowledge of Jesus Christ? And yet we see how careless we are in this behalf. In deed there is no man that will openly say, that he would not know Jesus Christ: howbeit there are but a few which will travel to seek for him as he ought to be sought for. And therefore it is no marvel though the Prophets stood always upon this point to bring us to the knowledge of Jesus Christ: for that is the only mean by which we must be reconciled unto God, and whereon we must be grounded.

Wée sée then, how yt our Lord is not so redy to powre out his vengeance, but that he pardoneth al those which haue recourse vnto his goodnesse and mercy. For hée is alwayes néere vnto thē,¹ which truly call vpon him. Now this hath continually béen the common vaine of the Prophetes, that when they woulde comfort poore sinners, they would bring them to the knowledge of Iesus Christe. And it was not without cause: for take vs from Iesus Christ, and then, what shall wée finde in God? Surely we shall finde suche an excellencie and highnesse in him, as shall throwe downe all creatures into the bottomeles depth: because that when we are come to the knowledge of our selues, wée shall finde nothing in vs, saue sinne and iniquitie: to present our selues before the maiestie of so great and mightie a Iudge, wée can by no meanes possible looke for any other thing, then the iustice and rigour of his vengeance, prepared for vs by reason of our iniquities. And I beséeche you, which of vs in déed shall bée able to exempt him self from out of the number of sinners, that hée may bée bolde to say, hée had not néede haue recourse vnto the knowledge of Iesus Christe? And yet wée sée howe carelesse wée are in this behalfe. In déede there is no man that will openly say, that he woulde not know Iesus Christ: howbeit there are but a fewe which will trauell to séeke for him as hée ought to bée sought for. And therefore it is no maruell though the Prophetes stoode alwaies vpon this point to bring vs to the knowledge of Iesus Christe: for that is the only meane by which wée must bée reconciled vnto God, and wheron we must be grounded.