A17690:683
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.
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.
in that he spared not his only begotten son, but delivered him to death for our sakes. On the other side, we see how obedient Jesus Christ was to god his father: let us not therefore be so presumptuous, as to enter into these foolish thoughts, and say, why doth God this, or that? For, we know that whatsoever he hath ordained, is grounded upon the fatherly love which he beareth us. And so, when we look at this, we then see why it is, that Christ Jesus suffered. This therefore, is the reason, wherefore S. Peter saith, ye God had decreed this in his unchangeable counsel. Moreover, he was contented that this should be done by the hand of the wicked & ungodly. Wherein we see, that it is in the wicked, to hurt the godly: but that they can do nothing without the sufferance of God: neither can we have a more excellent spectacle herein, than the very person of Jesus Christ. For we cannot choose but know, that whatsoever he suffered, was long ago foretold by the Prophets. It is said, that he was nailed on the Cross, because it was so foretold. Thus we see how these thievish Romanists crucify him (to wit, the soldiers unto whom the execution was committed) because it was so prophesied. They gave him very sharp & bitter drink, to drink:1 they parted his garments: & all this they did, because it was so written. To be short, there was nothing done in this, but that which God had before ordained. Thus we see that the wicked can do nothing ⟨image 200⟩without God give them leave. For we see, that these ungodly ones could go no farther then God had licensed them. And therefore whatsoever is said of Jesus Christ is to be applied to our use, for he himself hath said, that the little sparrows shall not fall on the ground without his ordinance. If so be then that the providence of God extendeth it self unto these small fowls,2 it must needs follow, that nothing cometh to pass without his appointment, he sayeth after that, that the hairs of our head are numbered, wherein, he showeth the fatherly care which he hath over us, and besides, because we are the members of Jesus Christ, and touch him very near, he would have us understand, that he taketh us for his children. For although the world be as it were the house of God, and he the Goodman of the household, yet doeth he singularly reverence and like his Church, and hath a special care thereof.