The sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle of S. Paul too the…The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the…

But now let us come too that which is said here. It seemeth that Saint Paul would make Jesus Christ as it were the root of mankind, so as we should descend of him: for he calleth us his offspring. But we have too mark, that forasmuch as our Lord Jesus Christ was shaped of the seed of Abraham, too perform the things that were promised, yea and that he could not be the Mediator between God and us, except he had bin of our nature: (for he could not have amended our misdoings wherethrough we were bound too endless damnation, unless he had clothed him self with our body, and had also a soul, too the end too present him self in the person of all men: and so it behoved our Lord Jesus Christ too be our flesh in our body:) we may say that he is of our bones and of our flesh. And why? He is descended of Adams race, as I said afore. But howsoever the case stand, he was conceived marvellously by the holy Ghost. Howbeit there is another respect. For yet for all this he ceaseth not too be the second Adam,¹ as Saint Paul termeth him, in making comparison between the grace wherethrough we were set again, and the deadly fall wherethrough we were all forlorn. He sayeth, that the first Adam did by his transgression make us enemies too God, so as we have no access to him, but should be thrust back, if we preached to him, and that justly. For where sin reigneth, there must needs be as it were unreconcilable division. God being the fountain of all righteousness, cannot match with our iniquities and corruptions. Then is there also a second Adam, which cometh to remedy all, that is to wit, our Lord Jesus Christ. And how is he the second Adam? For (as I told you afore) it is not meant that we should be so bold as too think too press unto Jesus Christ, as though we were linked too him of our own nature: but that is done in the power of his holy spirit, & not in the substance of his body. Behold then, Jesus Christ is become very man, and hath taken upon him the selfsame humane nature that ours is: but yet is it not of nature that we be his flesh and his bones: (for we be not ⟨image 315⟩descended of him as touching our own substance) but it is of his divine power. Then must we come too this point, that we be bone of the bones of our Lord Jesus Christ, because we be restored in him, and have in him as it were a new and second creation.

But now let vs come too that which is sayd heere. It seemeth that Saint Paule would make Iesus Christ as it were the roote of mankynd, so as wee should descend of him: for he calleth vs his ofspring. But wee haue too marke, that for asmuch as our Lord Iesus Christ was shaped of the seede of Abraham, too performe the thyngs that were promised, yea and that he could not bee the Mediator betweene God and vs, except he had byn of our nature: (for he could not haue amended our misdoinges wherthrough wee were bounde too endlesse damnation, vnlesse he had clothed hym selfe with our body, and had also a soule, too the end too present hym self in the person of al men: and so it behoued our Lord Iesus Christ too bee our flesh in our body:) wee may say that he is of our bones and of our flesh. And why? He is descended of Adams race, as I sayd afore. But howsoeuer the cace stand, he was conceyued maruelously by the holy Ghoste. Howbeeit there is another respect. For yit for all this he ceasseth not too bee the second Adam,