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 it is very good reason, that at the least there should be a conformity or an even agreement between the head and the members. Neither must we so despise our selves as to make no reckoning of our selves: for we shall by nature find such poverty and wants in our selves, as that we shall have very good occasion altogether to abase our selves. But let us acknowledge our selves to be such as in deed we are to the end we might offer up our selves in true humility unto our Lord Jesus Christ, that he might acknowledge & allow us for his. We have moreover to note by the way, that in the history which Saint Luke here reciteth, that on the one side we are to learn, that the son of God made himself of no reputation, for our salvation: and yet on the other side, notwithstanding that he ceased not to be a sure and undoubted testimony, that he was the Redeemer of the world, promised from the beginning: neither took he upon him our nature, because he was not able to defend and preserve his heavenly Majesty. Both which are here set down unto us: for our Lord Jesus Christ was laid in a Manger, as one clean forsaken of the world, and in extreme poverty, without honour, without reputation, and as one subject to all bondage and slavery: and yet did the Angels in heaven magnify him, doing him all homage and reverence. And here in the first place, an Angel brought tidings of his birth: but he was soon after accompanied with an whole army, who were all present and appeared, as witnesses sent from God, to show, that although our Lord Jesus Christ was so abased, for our salvation, yet was he for all that the King of the whole world, and had all things under his power and rule. And beside, the place of Bethlehem yielded a good proof that it was even he that was promised from the beginning. For the Prophet Micheah, ¹had so prophesied of him, where it is said, And thou Bethlehem, although thou be of no great reputation, like unto a village which maketh no ⟨image 20⟩great show, neither very well inhabited, yet out of thee shall he, come forth unto me, who shall be the ruler of my people: whose going forth, have been from everlasting.

For it is verie good reason, that at the least there should be a conformitie or an euen agréement betwéene the head and the members. Neither must wée so despise our selues as to make no reckoning of our selues: for wée shal by nature finde such pouertie and wants in our selues, as that we shal haue very good occasiō altogether to abase our selues. But let vs acknowledge our selues to be such as in déede we are to the ende we might offer vp our selues in true humilitie vnto our Lord Iesus Christ, that he might acknowledge & allow vs for his. Wée haue moreouer to note by the way, that in the history which Saint Luke here reciteth, that on the one side we are to learne, that the sonne of God made himself of no reputation, for our saluation: and yet on the other side, notwithstanding that he ceased not to bee a sure and vndoubted testimonie, that he was the Redéemer of the worlde, promised from the beginning: neither tooke hee vpon him our nature, because he was not able to defende and preserue his heauenly Maiestie. Both which are heere set downe vnto vs: for our Lorde Iesus Christ was laide in a Manger, as one cleane forsaken of the worlde, and in extreame pouertie, without honour, without reputation, and as one subiecte to all bondage and slauerie: and yet did the Angelles in heauen magnifie him, dooing him all homage and reuerence. And heere in the first place, an Angell brought tydinges of his byrth: but hee was soone after accompanied with an whole armie, who were all present and appeared, as witnesses sent from God, to shewe, that although our Lord Iesus Christ was so abased, for our saluation, yet was he for all that the King of the whole worlde, and had all thinges vnder his power and rule. And beside, the place of Bethlehem yelded a good proofe that it was euen hee that was promised from the beginning. For the Prophet Micheah,