Two and twenty sermons of Master John Calvin In which sermons is most religiously…Two and twentie sermons of Maister Iohn Caluin In which sermons is most religiously…

We see now, how we must practise this sentence, that we may say unto God, Think upon thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word. If any man will reply, that it can not be said, that God hath spoken to him, when as he speaketh to all in general: let us consider, that God offereth his grace too men in common, to the end that every man might afterward enter into him self, and not to doubt being a member of the church, but that he hath a part and portion of that, which is common to all the faithful. And where it is said, Rejoice thou daughter of Zion, for behold thy king cometh towards thee, ¹all the faithful in general ought to receive this promise, & that all also, even from the greatest to the least, might know that God offereth him self unto them, and allureth them, to the end that this promise might be performed and perfected unto them. And see why the sacraments are not administered unto us in common: but to every one severally. We will never baptize the whole Church with one baptism: but every one will be baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. And what other thing is meant by baptism, but a confirmation, of all the promises of God, which he hath given in common to the whole body of his church. See then, how the promises are special in the virtue of baptism. And so is it in the Supper. For when ⟨p. 57⟩we come to receive the bread and wine in the Supper, our Lord Jesus declareth unto us, that as he once for all shed his most precious blood for our redemption, and salvation, that his body also is our meat and nurture. Lo then, how we ought to be fully assured, that it is to us which God speaketh, and that he also offereth his mercy to us in common. And see why David also addeth, and sayeth,

We see now, how we must practise this sentence, that we may say vnto God, Thinke vpon thy seruant, O Lorde, according to thy word. If any man wil reply, that it can not be said, that God hath spoken to him, when as he speaketh to al in generall: let vs consider, that God offereth his grace too men in common, to the ende that euery man might afterward enter into him selfe, and not to doubt being a member of the church, but that hee hath a part and portion of that, which is common to all the faithfull. And where it is sayd, Reioyce thou daughter of Syon, for behold thy king commeth towardes thee, ¹