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, if we be not his children, we shall never be partakers in the community of Jesus Christ. For although God offereth unto us his graces, yet is Jesus Christ nothing unto us until such ⟨image 190⟩time as we have received the holy Ghost. Let us then conclude hereupon, that unto the time that we are partakers of the holy Ghost, we are reprobate, and the children of perdition: because it is he which sanctifieth and maketh us holy in the sight of God. So then, until such time we be as called by the knowledge of the holy scripture (which we can no way have, but by the gift of the holy ghost) to lift up our minds on high, we are fast tied to the earth, as if it were in Hell. And hereupon it is that Saint Paul speaketh, when he saith,¹ That they which have received the holy Ghost, guiding themselves according to the will of God declared in his word are I say, the children of God: and they, without all doubt are the children of the Devil, who following their carnal affections give themselves over to their pleasure and delight. Thus we see how necessary a thing it is for all those that would be accounted the children of GOD, to have the knowledge of Gods trueth.

Nowe, if wee bée not his children, wée shall neuer be partakers in the communitie of Iesus Christe. For although God offereth vnto vs his graces, yet is Iesus Christ nothing vnto vs vntill such ⟨image 190⟩time as wée haue receiued the holy Ghoste. Let vs then conclude héereupon, that vnto the time that wee are partakers of the holy Ghost, wée are reprobate, and the children of perdition: because it is hée which sanctifieth and maketh vs holy in the sight of God. So then, vntil such time we be as called by ye knowledg of ye holy scripture (which wée can no way haue, but by the gift of the holy ghost) to lift vp our mindes on high, wée are fast tyed to the earth, as if it were in Hell. And héereupon it is that Saint Paule speaketh, when he saith,¹ That they which haue receiued the holy Ghost, guiding themselues according to the will of God declared in his word are I say, the children of God: and they, without all doubt are the children of the Diuell, who following their carnall affections giue themselues ouer to their pleasure and delight. Thus we sée how necessary a thing it is for all those that would bee acccounted the children of GOD, to haue the knowledge of Gods trueth.