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…

True it is, that Jesus Christ was sent unto the Jews, not only to pull them from out of the bondage of the Devil, but to make them partakers also of the gifts of the holy Ghost. Howbeit, we are at this present, gathered altogether into one Church, and therefore there remaineth nothing but to show the effect of our Christianity, and of the graces which God hath bestowed on us: and then let us not doubt, but that we shall receive the gifts of the holy Ghost, since it is said, that God hath not poured them out upon ⟨image 192⟩one or two, but generally upon all men. Wherefore, it is not enough for us to boast that we are Christians, without we show the effect thereof, that it may be known, that we vainly take not upon us this name of Christianity. For, we must not do as many of the Papists do, who neither care for God nor his word, but content them selves only with this bare name of a Christian: and so they may be called by that name, they care for no more. Now, if they be asked, and if they be Christians, I pray you, what answer will they make? Surely, they think they have great wrong offered them, to have this question demanded. What? I beseech you good Sir, will they say, are we not Christians, have we not been baptized? Yea ywis, I grant it: But what faith have you for all this? Verily, they will say, that they believe as the Church believeth. And so by this mean they have aswadled faith, wherein their teachers have instructed them, in saying, That it is sufficient for them to believe as the Church believeth. Let them also be asked, how God is to be served and worshipped, why, they think that question is soon answered. And thus doeth God justly punish the iniquity of men, when we see simple souls guided by such instructors of Satan, to bring them tumbling headlongs together into the bottomless pit of hell with them selves. Thus we see how this Romish Idol hath liquored Christendom with all kind of lying, and false doctrine. And how so? Forsooth, because men have stopped up the way against the word of God, and are contented to be liquored, with leasing. But by the way, let us come home to our selves, and let us neither condemn the Papists, nor yet any others, but eftsoons apply this doctrine unto our own use. First of all, we have the Gospel, the doctrine of all wisdom, and yet how deaf and blockish are we?

True it is, that Iesus Christ was sent vnto the Iewes, not onely to pull them from out of the bondage of the Deuill, but to make them partakers also of the giftes of the holie Ghost. Howbeit, wée are at this present, gathered altogether into one Church, and therfore there remaineth nothing but to shewe the effect of our Christianitie, and of the graces which God hath bestowed on vs: and thē let vs not doubt, but that we shall receiue the giftes of the holie Ghost, since it is saide, that God hath not poured them out vpon