The lectures or daily sermons, of that reverend divine, D. John Calvin, pastor of…The lectures or daily sermons, of that reuerend diuine, D. Iohn Caluine, pastor of…

This therefore is the reason why they fall unto lots because when the matter came to that trial, every man thought himself innocent. This place declareth, which thing also even by common experience is to well known, that men although they perceive them selves guilty before God, do extenuate their sins, and promise pardon to them selves, as though they could indent with God, that he should not deal with them by extremity, but favourably should handle them. Hearehence therefore springeth hope to escape with out punishment, for as much as of most grievous sins we make but light offence. So see we in the papacy that divers means have been imagined, whereby they might absolve themselves, & wipe away their spots, in the presence of God. The sprinkling of holy water putteth away almost all sins, except a man be adulterer, an homicide, a sorcerer or ten times perjured, he thinketh himself not culpable of any crime, therefore the sacrifices which they use, are of force, they think to blot out all iniquities: Whence springeth this error. Even because they esteem of God by their own wits, and think not their sins to be so great an abomination in the sight of God. But this is no new thing. For we see what now happened in the time of Jonah: and out of profane histories we may gather this error then every where to have occupied the minds of all men: they had their daily sacrifices, even as the Papists have their Masses, their Pilgrimages, their holy water sprinklings, and like trifles. But even as in the Papacy there be certain cases reserved, so also if any man had slain either Father or mother, if a man had committed incest, he ⟨p. 17⟩had need of an extraordinary sacrifice: and if any were of a notable virtue upon earth, him they use, that they might seek a new kind of Sacrifice, here is an example of this error laid before us, when as they say: Let us cast lette•. For except they had thought one man and not many to be guilty, each man would have brought his sins to light, and after would have acknowledged the heap to be so great, that it might fill both heaven and earth: But this they do not. For here must one man be wicked: but no man will come forth in presence with this title, and therefore cast they lots.

This therefore is the reason why they fall vnto lottes because when ye matter came to that tryal, euery man thought himselfe innocent. This place declareth, which thing also euen by common experience is to wel knowen, that men although they perceyue them selues guilty before God, doo extenuate their sinnes, and promise pardon to them selues, as though they coulde indent with God, that hée shoulde not deale with them by extremitie, but fauorably should handle them. Hearehence therefore springeth hope to escape with out punishment, for as muche as of most gréeuouse sinnes wée make but light offence. So sée we in the papacye that diuers meanes haue bene immagined, whereby they might obsolue themselues, & wype away their spots, in the presēce of God. The sprinkling of holy water putteth away almost all sinnes, except a man be adulterer, an homicide, a sorcerer or ten tymes pariured, he thinketh himselfe not culpable of any cryme, therefore the sacrifices which they vse, are of force, they thinke to blotte out al iniquityes: Whence springeth this errour. Euen because they estéeme of God by theyr owne wittes, and thinke not their sinnes to be so great an abhomination in the sight of God. But this is no newe thing. For we sée what nowe happened in the tyme of Ionas: and out of prophane histories we may gather this error then euery where to haue occupied the myndes of all men: they had theyr dayly sacrifices, euen as the Papists haue their Masses, their Pilgrimages, their holy water sprinklynges, and lyke tryfles. But euen as in the Papacie there be certaine cases reserued, so also if any man had slayne eyther Father or mother, if a man had committed incest, hée