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…

But let us consider of the quality of his death: and let us chiefly come to the original thereof. For death did not only dissolve the man, but made him also to feel the curse of God. For over and besides that, that God taketh us out of his world, and that we leave this present life, Death is unto us an entrance as it were into the gulf of hell. And therefore, when we hear death spoken of, we must needs be separated from GOD, and cut off from all hope of salvation, without we had this remedy, to wit, that our Lord Jesus Christ hath suffered for us, to the end that the wound which came by reason of it, might be no more deadly. For without him, we were so wounded by death, that there was no more hope of salvation for us: but now the sting thereof is broken: yea the poison thereof is so cleansed & wiped away, that we being humbled by death, ⟨image 31⟩it serveth us at this day for a medicine, and is no more deadly, because Jesus Christ hath swallowed up all the curse which was in it. Now let us see what it is, that we have too keep in mind, which is, that son of God in crying out, O my Father, if it be possible, let this drink be taken from me, did not regard only the sufferings in his body, neither the shame of men, nor yet the leaving of the world: (for he could easily abide all these things) But he respected his coming before God, and before his judgement seat, to make an account for all our sins, and to behold all the curses of God which were prepared. For when as there was but one only sinner, what was this to the wrath of GOD? And when it is said that God is against us, & will display his power to confound us, Alas, what shall become of us? Now, it hath so fallen out, that Jesus Christ did not only strive against such a fear, but against all the cruelties that might be heaped up together. And therefore when we see GOD call to a reckoning all those who have deserved everlasting condemnation, and are guilty of sin, and that he himself is there to pronounce such sentence as they have deserved, who will not conceive all the deaths, doubts, and terrors, which may be in every one. And then what a destruction will there be in this? Now, it hath fallen out that our Lord Jesus Christ himself alone without any help, hath borne such a burden.

But let vs consider of the qualitie of his death: and let vs chiefly come to the originall thereof. For death did not onely dissolue the man, but made him also to féele the curse of God. For ouer and besides that, that God taketh vs out of his world, and that wée leaue this present lyfe, Death is vnto vs an entraunce as it were into the gulfe of hell. And therefore, when wee heare death spoken of, wée must néedes bee separated from GOD, and cut off from all hope of saluation, without wee had this remedie, to wyt, that our Lorde Iesus Christ hath suffered for vs, to the ende that the wounde which came by reason of it, might bee no more deadly. For without him, we were so wounded by death, that there was no more hope of saluation for vs: but now the sting therof is broken: yea the poyson therof is so clēsed & wiped away, that we being humbled by death,