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…

Moreover, we must let him understand, that when the kingdom of the Messiah is spoken of in the scripture, that it is a spiritual kingdom, to the end he should not be deceived, to think him to be an earthly King, as all the Jews imagined. And this is it which caused them to refuse Jesus Christ, forsomuch as he reigned not over the people, as they thought he should have done. Now, for the first point, we have nothing wherefore to stand against the Papists, but for the second. For they grant unto us that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and the same that was promised in the law: and that he was put to death, and rose again. ⟨image 198⟩And herein we easily agree. But they are to be taught to what end he came: For they do not acknowledge him to be the same man in deed that he is. We know, that we must believe, that our salvation cometh by Jesus Christ alone, & by his death and passion. And the Papists, clean contrary, attribute it unto their works, and merits, and other their inventions: and think, by that mean to be sanctified. Wherefore, they seek in their works the thing, which can no way be found, but in Jesus Christ. Thus we see that it is not needful for us to teach the Papists any thing as concerning the person of Jesus Christ, but only to show them what his power and virtue is, wherefore he came, and what benefit we may reap thereby. Now, Saint Peter hath here taken upon him, to set forth these two points: For the Jews, knew not that Jesus Christ was the Messiah sent from God, and therefore much less knew they his power, and why he came. And therefore he telleth them that he showed himself to be the Son of God amongst them, in as much as he rose again: so▪ that by his resurrection they might know him to be the very same, because he was delivered from death and overcame it: and therefore, that life and salvation, must be had in him and by him. And this is it which Saint Peter meaneth to declare in this first place: he will also show us what fruit we have by his resurrection, which we mean to declare hereafter, as it cometh in order to be handled. Now, seeing we at this present, understand the purpose of Saint Peter, and the order of his Sermon, let us follow it:

Moreouer, we must let him vnderstand, that when the kingdome of the Messiah is spoken of in the scripture, that it is a spirituall kingdome, to the ende hée should not be deceiued, to thinke him to be an earthly King, as all the Iewes imagined. And this is it which caused them to refuse Iesus Christ, forsomuch as he reigned not ouer the people, as they thought hée shoulde haue done. Nowe, for the first point, wée haue nothing wherefore to stande against the Papistes, but for the second. For they graunt vnto vs that Iesus Christ is the Sonne of God, and the same that was promised in the law: and that hée was put to death, and rose agayne.