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…

7. But grace is given too every of us, according too the measure of Christs gift. 8. For the which thing he sayeth, when he went up on high he led a multitude of prisoners into captivity, and gave gifts too men. 9. Now, that he went up, what meaneth it, but that he first went down into the low parts of the earth? 10. He that went down, is the same that went up above all the heavens, too the end to fulfil all things.

7. But grace is giuen too euery of vs, according too the measure of Christes gift. 8. For the vvhich thing he sayeth, vvhen he vvent vp on hygh he led a multitude of prisoners intoo captiuitie, and gaue giftes too men. 9. Novv, that he went vp, what meaneth it, but that he first went downe intoo the lovve partes of the earth? 10. He that vvent dovvne, is the same that vvent vp aboue all the heauens, too the end to fulfill all things.

I Began this morning too expound the text of the Psalm alleged here by S. Paul,¹ showing that all the things which are spoken there, agree too the person of the only son of God. For although he say oftentimes by way of similitude, that God goeth up, when he showeth himself judge of the world, and defender of his Church: yet notwithstanding inasmuch as when our Lord Jesus Christ was come down, he was abased as one that was beneath all men, and afterward was exalted by the power of God his father: therein we see most fully, how God vouchsafed too be abased, for a time in the person of his son, and too be in a state despised before men, and afterward would be crowned again with glory and honour, as the Apostle sayeth of him in the Epistle too the Hebrews: and that is the cause why S. Paul saith here,² that it behoved him first too descend, too be so exalted.³ But before we goo any further, we must mark that here S. Paul hath changed the word. For whereas David sayeth, that God Received gifts and presents, that is too say, tribute and homage of those whom he had subdued too his majesty: S. Paul in stead thereof sayeth, that he gave. And so this is not rehearsed as it lieth in the Psalm: but the Apostle meant too show that the triumph which our Lord Jesus Christ made when he rose from death, surmounted all Davids victories, and