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 to that which Saint Paul addeth. He saith, that it behoved Jesus Christ to descend, according also as he descended into the low parts of the earth, and that thereupon he was exalted. Many have made over violent glozes upon this place, saying that Jesus Christ went down, not only, into the grave, but also even into Limbo,¹ a place forged of their own brain. But Saint Paul speaks simply, namely, (as it is said in the second too the Philippians) that because Jesus Christ was abased, therefore God his father exalted him too his right hand, and gave him a sovereign dominion, too the end that all knees should thenceforth bow before him. Therefore whereas S. Paul saith, that Jesus Christ was abased, he meaneth it of his clothing of himself with our nature, wherein he became despised, without any dignity, and without any reputation too the worldward.² According whereunto it is said in the Psalm, that he was counted as a worm of the earth, and not as a man, insomuch that men took scorn too look upon him (as sayeth the Prophet Isaiah,) and there was nothing in him that men could like of.³ Ye see then that Jesus Christ did so submit himself to all reproach, that he was disfigured,⁴ and men did spit at him, and mock him, and do him all the wrongs that they could, and afterward he was exalted. And no doubt but Saint Paul hath touched the thing here which he discourseth more at the length in the forealledged place:⁵ which is, that the example of the son of God ought too teach us lowliness, and too make us walk plainly without taking any thing upon us above other men. For who are we? What is our state? When every of us hath sifted himself throughly, what shall he find in him too boast of? We have many things too thank God for: but too take upon us that which is his, were a villainous treachery. So is there nothing for us too do but too cast down our eyes. For behold, the son of God could have showed himself in his heavenly glory and majesty; so ⟨image 189⟩