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…

And here we see, that our Lord Jesus Christ hath not spared himself, to the end we might have ready passage unto him, & not doubt but that he will receive us as his own body, seeing he would not only become a mortal man, clothed with our nature, but also become like unto a poor worm of the earth, void of all felicity. And therefore, let us not doubt how miserable soever we be, but that he will take us always for his members. Howbeit on the other side, we see him marked as it were by the hand of God, to the end he should be willingly received, as the man, from whom we must look for our salvation, & by whom we are received into the kingdom of God, from which we were before banished. For we see a divine or heavenly power & majesty to be in him, because the Angels took him as it were for their superior & sovereign king: neither must we doubt that when we are under his protection, that he hath wherewithal to defend & preserve us. Howbeit, let us know this by the way, that although he hath so abased himself, yet that it is no whit derogatory from his divine power, neither yet any hinderance to us, from being safe & sure under his government. Here, therefore we see the sum & effect of this history: which is, that in the first place we might acknowledge the son of God, even our mediator, to be linked unto us with such a bond, as that we should not doubt, but that we are always partakers, both of his life, & also of his riches. And in the mean while, let us likewise acknowledge, that he brought with himself to us, whatsoever was requisite for our salvation. For (as we have already said) he was not made of so vile reputation, but that he always kept with him his heavenly power & majesty: and although the world accounted him to be of no credit, yet nevertheless, he was always not only the inheritor of this world (because he is head of the Church) but also very God for ever. Moreover let us learn of them who are here appointed to be our masters & guides, how to come to our lord Jesus Christ. In very deed, the wise men of this world, so swell with pride & presumption, as that they will scarcely vouchsafe to be taught of simple men, and of shepherds of the field: and yet all the wisdom we have, is to learn of these shepherds (of whom we have here spoken) to come unto our Lord Jesus Christ.

And here we sée, that our Lord Iesus Christ hath not spared himselfe, to the ende we might haue readie passage vnto him, & not doubt but that he will receiue vs as his owne bodie, séeing he woulde not only become a mortall man, clothed with our nature, but also become like vnto a poore worme of the earth, voide of all felicitie. And therefore, let vs not doubt how miserable soeuer we be, but yt he will take vs alwayes for his members. Howbeit on the other side, we sée him marked as it were by ye hand of God, to ye end he should be willingly receiued, as the man, frō whō we must looke for our saluation, & by whō we are receiued into ye kingdom of God, frō which we were before banished. For we sée a diuine or heauenly power & maiestie to be in him, because ye Angels tooke him as it were for their superior & souereigne king: neither must we doubt yt whē we are vnder his protectiō, yt he hath wherwithal to defēd & preserue vs. Howbeit, let vs know this by ye way, yt although he hath so abased himself, yet that it is no whit derogatory frō his diuine power, neither yet any hinderance to vs, from being safe & sure vnder his gouernment. Here, therfore we sée ye sum & effect of this history: which is, that in ye first place we might acknowledge ye sonne of God, euē our mediator, to be linked vnto vs with such a bond, as yt we should not doubt, but that we are alwayes pertakers, both of his life, & also of his riches. And in the mean while, let vs likewise acknowledge, yt he brought wt himselfe to vs, whatsoeuer was requisit for our saluatiō. For (as we haue alredy said) he was not made of so vile reputatiō, but that he alwayes kept with him his heauenly power & maiestie: and although the world accounted him to be of no credit, yet neuertheles, he was alwayes not only ye enheritor of this worlde (because hée is head of the Church) but also verie God for euer. Moreouer let vs learn of them who are here appointed to be our maisters & guides, how to come to our lord Iesus Christ. In very déed, ye wise men of this world, so swell wt pride & presumption, as yt they will scarcely vouchsafe to bee taught of simple men, and of shepheardes of the fielde: and yet all the wisedome we haue, is to learne of these shepheards (of whom we haue here spoken) to come vnto our Lord Iesus Christ.