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…

and yet we see that being borne in a stable,¹ he walked all his life time as one unknown and unesteemed, and in the end was put too death, and that not a common death, but a death that was so reproachful, yea and cursed of Gods own mouth,² that he was held for accursed before God and his Angels, too the intent that we might be blessed for his sake and by his means.³ Seeing then that Gods son was so abased, have not we good cause too stoop low? For God requireth not that we should forgo any thing of our own, when he exhorteth us too lowliness. And why? for if we knew what we be, we would stoop low enough. Our head was not in like plight when he came down hither. For why?⁴ As it is said in the .xvii. of Saint John, he possessed his divine glory and majesty before the making of the world. And yet for all that, he vouchsafed too abase himself in such wise (as in the sight and opinion of men) that too outward appearance he seemed too have utterly given over his majesty. It is true that he continued still in his perfect state, but that appeared not. And that is the cause why Saint Paul useth the word Figure or Shape: he appeared (sayeth he) in the shape of man. For he meaneth that our Lord Jesus Christs clothing of himself with our flesh, and his being despised and rejected, were no derogation at all too his divine essence. And why? for it was but an outward shape. Then did he continue always unimpaired, and yet nevertheless he was seen too be under all men. Who will then refuse the same state, that we should not be lowly after his example? The fathers that lived under the Law perceived already •hat it behoved them too be fashioned like unto the image and pattern of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was their head, and yet they had but very dark figures. Now then, seeing that Jesus Christ showeth us the way,⁵ so as he is entered into the kingdom of heaven through many tribulations, and into life by death, and is exalted on high after abasing low: what excuse shall we have, if we seeing those things, be still puffed up with pride, and cannot find in our hearts too walk in meekness, considering that we be nothing? So then, whereas Saint Paul speaketh of the low places of the earth: he meaneth the humane nature which our Lord Jesus took upon him for our salvation, yea even with addition of all the things that I have toched.