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…

Let us then see how our Lord Jesus Christ behaved himself. For if it was meet that he should suffer an hundred deaths, yea a Million, without doubt he was prepared for that purpose before: Howbeit, such was his will, not for himself, but for us, to abide the anguishes which plunged him into it as we see. And thus much for this point. Now for the second, If it be asked, how our Lord Jesus Christ, who is said to be altogether righteous, the Lamb without spot, and the ⟨image 30⟩very rule and glass of all righteousness, holiness, and perfection, could will, contrary to God his will. This is the answer, that God is the whole perfection of righteousness and judgement. For although the Angels are conformable to the will of God, and wholly obedient unto him, yet is their will separate: For, because they are creatures, they may have affections which appertain not to God. But as for us who are compassed about with this lump of sin, we are so blockish as that we are very far from the will of God: for our desires exceed, yea and are oftentimes very manifestly Rebellious. But if we consider of man as he was in his pureness, to wit, without this corruption of sin, yet without doubt his affections shall come nothing nigh unto Gods, and yet not be corrupt. As if Adam were not thus perverted as he is, but had continued in the same estate, wherein he was created, yet had he abidden heat and cold, and might have suffered cares, and fears, and such other like. And such a one we see was our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know that his affections were without spot or blot, and they all were squared unto the obedience of God, but yet (because he had taken our nature upon him) he was subject to fear and to this terror whereof we even now spake, and unto cares and such like. We cannot see this in us, no more then in puddly water a man can judge of anything. And thus we see how these earthly affections cause us to float from one side to an other, and so toss us, as that God had need to uphold us: But the affections which we that are descended of Adam have, are like unto clay exceedingly tempered with infection, so that we cannot see what this passion of our Lord Jesus Christ was, if we measure it as we are men. For when we do any thing to a good end, & our affection of it self is just, and allowed of God, yet shall we continually fail therein.

Let vs then sée howe our Lorde Iesus Christe behaued himselfe. For if it was méete that hée shoulde suffer an hundreth deathes, yea a Myllion, without doubte hée was prepared for that purpose before: Howebeit, suche was his will, not for himselfe, but for vs, to abide the anguishes whiche plunged him into it as wée sée. And thus much for this poynt. Nowe for the seconde, If it bée asked, howe our Lorde Iesus Christ, who is saide to bée altogether righteous, the Lambe without spotte, and the