A17690:700
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.
Now, if they say they have no such meaning, it is all one, & the case so standeth for all that. We are hereby taught that our service cannot please God, without we first believe the Gospel, and accept of all therein contained, for our humbling, To be short, faith is the chiefest thing that God requireth at our hands. In very deed we are to note this by the way, that faith simply leadeth us not to consent unto that which is taught us, but that we must withal, bring our hearts and affections with us: For we must not only accept of that, that is said unto us, with our mouths, or in a fantastical manner, but it must be imprinted in our hearts, and we must also understand, that it is not lawful for us to stand against our God.
Now, if they say they haue no such meaning, it is all one, & the case so standeth for all that. We are hereby taught that our seruice cannot please God, without wee first beléeue the Gospell, and accept of all therein conteined, for our humbling, To bée short, faith is the chiefest thing that God requireth at our handes. In very déede wée are to note this by the way, that faith simply leadeth vs not to consent vnto that which is taught vs, but that wée must withall, bring our heartes and affections with vs: For wée must not only accept of that, that is said vnto vs, with our mouthes, or in a fantasticall maner, but it must bée imprinted in our heartes, and we must also vnderstand, that it is not lawfull for vs to stand against our God.
And therefore, let us with a true desire crave to stick unto the doctrine which is offered us. Faith then is in the heart, and there taketh root, and is no simple and bare knowledge: For if we were once brought to believe that the doctrine of the Gospel is true, and yet we in the mean while could find no savour in it, but were grieved and wearied with it, were this to be obedient unto it? No surely. Let us learn then to obey God, and take not the doctrine of the Gospel to be good, and holy only, but let us also love it: and not only love it, but also reverence it: accordingly as David speaketh of the Law, where he saith,1 That he thought it to be ⟨image 204⟩