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…

And besides, GOD showeth us such favour in joining his glory ⟨image 203⟩with our salvation, as that there is an inseparable bond between the one and the other. For, do not we see an infallible assurance, that our Lord Jesus will come to give us rest and quietness, because it cannot otherwise be but that God will maintain his majesty against the pride and enmity of men? And therefore let us diligently mark, that Jesus Christ cannot maintain the glory of his father, but that he must eftsoons declare himself to be our redeemer. And these things (as I have said) cannot be sundered. Wherefore we herein see the infinite love of our God towards his faithful ones, whenas he conjoineth himself in •uch sort with them, for as he cannot possibly forget his own glory, no more can he also forget our salvation: and as he will show his power to be revenged of all such as resist him, even so will he likewise punish all those that have unjustly afflicted his chosen people. Thus we see, what S. Paul his meaning is, when as he sayeth that Jesus Christ will come to render vengeance to all those which have not known God, and obeyed his Gospel. As if he should have said Behold your enemies which persecuted you. Now, you were in doubt whether God regarded your afflictions, and whether he had compassion of you or not, for the remedying of them. What? Think you that GOD maketh no reckoning to maintain and defend his glory? Now, as the Adversaries afflict you for cleaving unto the Gospel, even so likewise will God, in the defence of his own cause, be your Protector and defender. And by the way, S. Paul also giveth us here in this place many profitable advertisements. For, when he speaketh of the vengeance which is prepared for our enemies, he saith, That Jesus Christ will come with the Angels of his power, and in flaming fire. But to what end? Forsooth, to confirm his saying: to wit, that the enemies of his truth (sayeth he) might sustain their punishment, both before God, and his majesty. As if he should have said, surely, you can no more comprehend the torment which the faithless shall suffer: then we do see the glory of God. For when we hear the glory of God spoken of, we know it to be without end, and measure, and therefore we ought to wonder at it. Even so fareth it with the horrible vengeance which is prepared for all the faithless:

And besides, GOD sheweth vs such fauour in ioyning his glorie ⟨image 203⟩