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…

Thirdly, he showeth, that if our faith be pure and right, that it is impossible but that we must eftsoons be sanctified. Thus we see three points which we are to observe. The first is, That if we foil, and tumble our selves in our filthiness, and corruptions, we are quite cut off from the Son of God: and therefore let us not look to be any whit the better for his coming: but call to mind the saying of the Prophet, in these words, Desire not the coming of the day of the Lord:¹ For it shall be a day of terror and fear, and not of health and joy.

Thirdly, hée sheweth, that if our fayth be pure and right, that it is impossible but that we must eftsoones be sanctified. Thus wée sée thrée pointes which we are to obserue. The first is, That if we foyle, and tumble our selues in our filthinesse, and corruptions, we are quite cut off from the Sonne of God: and therefore let vs not looke to be any whit the better for his comming: but call to minde the saying of the Prophet, in these wordes, Desire not the comming of the day of the Lorde:¹ For it shall be a day of terrour and feare, and not of health and ioy.

1. 1Amos. 5.

For, by reason there were in those days, a great number of hypocrites, who cloaked them selves with the name of God, the Prophet telleth them that it will cost them dear. After the same very manner shall we see the most wicked at this day, with open mouth and wide throat say, What I beseech you good Sir? think you that we fear not God, and that we will not be as good Christians as the rest? Thus, no doubt of it, will they say: and yet in the mean while, a man shall see nothing in them but wantonness, and all ungodliness, and as religious as Dogs and Swine. And examine their lives, and we shall find them altogether disloyal, and faithless like Foxes, full of treason, perjury, cruelty, and bitterness unto their neighbours: given to all kind of harm and outrage, and full of all corruption, so that whosoever giveth them most, they will be sure to be no losers: They will keep open shop to take of all hands, insomuch that they will not only sell their faith and credit, but their honour and honesty also even in open sight: and will keep open fair and market to utter all wickedness. To be short, they will show them selves extreme impudent contemptuous persons, and yet forsooth, they will not stick to brag, that they are the frowardest men in all the Church of God: and think, that God will help them, as if he were greatly beholden unto them. And therefore, as we see it to be thus at this day, even so the Prophet speaking to those that were in his days, saith, What? what kind of brags are these that you make, of the Lords coming? Why? think you to receive any benefit by his coming? No, no: But be assured that it will be a terrible, and a most fearful day to you. And so, according to my first saying, we have to note out of this place of Saint Paul, that if we would have the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ available to us, and do us good, and to be the Redeemer of our salvation, we must learn to consecrate our selves to holiness of life, and to separate our selves from the corruptions of the world, and the flesh. And thus much for the first point. But to the attaining hereof, let us note, that we must begin with faith: according to that which we have lately said: