A17690:69
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.
to wit, that there are many things which are able to make us become dissolute or wanton, or at the least blear our eyes, that we shall not be able to perceive the heavenly glory which GOD his Father hath given him: I say in the same humane nature, which he took upon us. For in as much as he is GOD, he hath all thing of him self (as it is said in the seventeenth Chapter of Saint John) but in that he is man, whatsoever he bringeth us, he hath received of free gift,1 that we ⟨image 22⟩might draw out of his fullness,2 and find in him whatsoever is to be desired, and so rest & content our selves in him alone. Moreover, let us here note, that the holy Ghost meaneth to assure us, that we following the Ministers who are here appointed for masters and guides, ought not to fear falling away: for seeing, the Shepherds had none other sign but the Stable and a Manger, we may say: Behold a sort of simple idiots, who are foolishly, and without any reason, made to believe, that this was the Redeemer of the world: and yet this would be too too easy a matter for us to do. And therefore we might stand in doubt: but on the other side, the shepherds were confirmed very certainly that he was the Son of God, even he that lay so in the Manger: to wit, when the Angel appeared unto them, and after they had heard this song which Saint Luke setteth down, where all the kingdom of heaven bear witness of our Lord Jesus Christ, that he had all power over the creatures both of heaven and earth. Let us therefore learn to receive (in the assurance of the faith of Jesus Christ) whatsoever is here set before us. For this is certain and sure that God meaneth to convince all those, of unthankfulness, who at this day vouchsafe not to worship his only Son, seeing he sent such a multitude of Angels to declare that he was the promised Redeemer. We then have a trim way to flatter our selves in our incredulity, as we see a number of blockish people do: who make no reckoning of whatsoever is written in the Gospel. There are also certain scorners of God so senseless, as, that whatsoever is preached, is to them all one, for they account of it no better then of the telling of fables. Now, as many as submit not them selves to the worship of our Lord Jesus Christ, are to be condemned of most obstinate and devilish rebellion.