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…

Wherefore let us here put in practise the exhortation that hath bin touched afore: which is, that we cannot be taken for Gods children, except we become like too him that hath the right of the first borne. Sith it is so: let us willingly suffer our selves too be abased, that God may exalt us: for by that mean did our Lord Jesus come too his glory. Again, let us apply all our senses to taste throughly what the mercy of God is, in that it hath pleased him that his son which was his image, should be so abased. Let us consider how great the love of our Lord Jesus Christ is, in that he vouchsafed to hide his divine essence for a time, and took not upon him as belonged unto him, but did as it were stoop down too the sight of the world. Sith we see this, let us consider first of all, how precious […] souls were too the son of God, seeing he vouchsafed too stoop so low for our sakes, and let us esteem of the Gospel whereby so great a benefit is communicated unto us, assuring our selves, that if Gods son had not come down unto us, there had bin no mean for us too have come unto God his father. For besides that we be plunged here in mire, and have nothings in us but utter frailty: it is certain, that we bear as good as a hell about us, because the devil is not without cause called the prince of this world.¹ So then, seeing we be under the tyranny of Satan and of sin, how could we mount upward, if Jesus Christ drew us not? But first it behoved Christ too come down hither. And thereby are we taught to worship our Lord Jesus Christ always in the person which he hath taken of the mediator: and whereas the unbelievers and unholy folk take occasion too despise him, because he was crucified: let us honour him still as he deserveth. For whereas his greatness and majesty were after a sort darkened for a time: that was too give the greater beauty too his mercy and loving kindness: which ⟨p. 172⟩selfsame word S. Paul useth when he purposeth too express well what earnestness of mind and care God had, too ransom us from the dungeons of death. And so ye see in effect what we have too consider upon the Apostles words, where he saith, that Jesus Christ was so abased.

Wherfore let vs heere put in practize the exhortation that hath bin touched afore: which is, that wee cannot bee taken for Gods children, except wee become lyke too him that hath the ryght of the first borne. Sith it is so: let vs willingly suffer our selues too be abaced, that God may exalt vs: for by that meane did our Lord Iesus come too his glorie. Agein, let vs apply all our senses to tast throughly what the mercie of God is, in that it hath pleased him that his sonne which was his image, should bee so abaced. Let vs consider how greate the loue of our Lord Iesus Christ is, in that he voutsafed to hide his diuine essence for a tyme, and tooke not vppon him as belonged vntoo him, but did as it were stoope downe too the syght of the world. Sith wee see this, let vs consider first of all, how precious soules were too the sonne of God, seeing he voutsafed too stoope so lowe for our saks, and let vs esteeme of the Gospell wherby so greate a benefyte is communicated vntoo vs, assuring our selues, that if Gods sonne had not come downe vntoo vs, there had bin no meane for vs too haue come vntoo God his father. For besyds that wee bee plundged heere in myre, and haue nothings in vs but vtter frayltie: it is certeyne, that we beare as good as a hell about vs, bycause the diuell is not without cause called the prince of this world.