A17690:74
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.
Now, peace and joy are things which cannot be separated: For how can it be that we should have any thing wherein to joy, when as we see our selves compassed about with so many miseries. And besides, when we see our selves cursed in Adam, The children of wrath, and God being our judge, armed to execute vengeance to the throwing of us down into the bottomless depth, what joy is it possible for us to conceive, who stand in such a desperate estate? And surely when we think hereon, It cannot be that we should be only tormented with ⟨image 24⟩unquiet minds, but also be oppressed with the horror of Hell fire, which surpasseth all the griefs of this world: except surely the Devil hath bewitched us: as many we see which cease not herein to make themselves merry, although they be at open defiance even with God himself. But if we had but one drop of feeling within us, without doubt we should always live in torment, until such time as we find God to show himself merciful unto us. And therefore this peace must go before, that we are fully assured that God alloweth us for his children and that because he imputeth not our sins unto us. Now, are we in this sort at peace with God? And if we be so, then surely we have wherefore to rejoice: yea even with God, according to that which I have already touched. For the very Infidels have a certain kind of peace (that is to say, They are so senseless, as that they make no reckoning of the judgement of God yea they are even angry with him) but it is not with God. For they never are at peace and rest, without it be when they forget both God, & themselves, & become altogether brutish, howbeit S. Paul exhorteth us to be at peace with God:1 that is to say, to look unto him & search how we may be at peace, that is, we drawing near unto him, are certain & sure of his love, But how shall this be done? forsooth even by the forgiveness of our sins, through the love which he beareth us in our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us here now note, that the peace which the Angels of heaven preached at this time, brought this joy, whereof the first Angel made mention, saying, Behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, that is, The salvation which you have in Jesus Christ. For he is called our peace:
Nowe, peace and ioy are thinges whiche cannot bee separated: For howe can it bée that we should haue any thing wherein to ioy, when as wée sée our selues compassed about with so many miseries. And besides, when wée sée our selues cursed in Adam, The children of wrath, and God being our iudge, armed to execute vengeance to the throwing of vs downe into the bottomlesse depth, what ioy is it possible for vs to conceiue, who stande in suche a desperate estate? And surely when wée thinke héereon, It cannot bée that wée shoulde bée onely tormented with