A17690:67
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…
Divers sermons of Master John Calvin, concerning the divinity, humanity, and nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ as also touching his passion, death, resurrection, ascension: together with the coming down of the holy Ghost upon his Apostles: and the first sermon of S. Peter. The order of which you shall find in the page ensuing.Diuers sermons of Master Iohn Caluin, concerning the diuinitie, humanitie, and natiuitie of our Lorde Iesus Christe as also touching his passion, death, resurection, ascention: togeather with the comming downe of the holy Ghoste vpon his Apostles: and the first sermon of S. Peter. The order of which you shall finde in the page ensuing.
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for George Byshop, 1581
Title page typeset from the transcription.
A Sermon of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.A Sermon of the birth of our Lorde Iesus Christ.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And yet would not all this withdraw their minds from the visiting of him. Their coming then was for this cause, to acknowledge him to be as it were the Lord, confessing ye God had compassion of them, and would in the end accomplish and fulfil the promise which he had ⟨image 21⟩made them from the beginning, and so confirmed them selves thereof by this spectacle. Seeing then these Shepherds had so great faith, that it strove against all whatsoever might pull them back from coming unto our Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be worthy double blame, and without all excuse, except we learn and take forth this lesson in their school: and make not the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ (although there appeared no worldly dignity, pomp or nobleness therein) a stumbling block to stay, or withdraw us from the right way, to come to submit our selves unto him as unto our siege king, and unto him, unto whom all power and dominion is given both in heaven and earth. And surely this is an admonition very needful for us: for as I have already said, The doctrine of the Gospel is a very stumbling block to all proud and foolish men, and to such as think themselves wise, we see also that many fantastical fellows spurn against whatsoever is contrary to their own minds. On the other side, there were many mockers & scorners, who were never touched with any feeling of their sins: and because they are profane people, who never think to come to an account, and know not any other better life then this which they see here below, they think it therefore mere foolishness so to follow the son of God, and to be acquainted with him. And the more we see this, so much the more ought this advertisement to strengthen us, to wit, that the son of God loseth not a jot of his majesty and glory, neither is any whit lessened, because he hath abased himself for our salvation: but we ought rather to wonder at it, knowing his inestimable goodness & love towards us. We see then how we must put this doctrine in practise, which is, we must not cease to come unto our Lord Jesus Christ, although we find not at his hands at the first chop, the thing which our flesh, or natural affection, desireth.
And yet woulde not all this withdraw their mindes from the visiting of him. Their cōming then was for this cause, to acknowledge him to be as it were ye Lord, cōfessing ye God had cōpassion of them, and would in the end accomplish and fulfill the promise which hée had ⟨image 21⟩