Divers sermons of Master John Calvin, concerning the divinity, humanity, and nativity of our…Diuers sermons of Master Iohn Caluin, concerning the diuinitie, humanitie, and natiuitie of our…

And the manner of the Jews was altogether to kiss one another, as we see by the holy Scripture. Moreover, a man would think it very strange, that Judas being gone form the company of Jesus Christ but a while before, to wit, even the selfsame night before, returned and kissed him, as if he had come from some far journey. But he used this manner of courtesy because he came like a man half afraid. And mark, why it is ⟨image 39⟩said in the other Gospel, That he said, Master, God save thee, or all hail Master, he seemed at that time to be very angry, that his Master was thus dealt with: and when he saw such a company come to take him, he drew near and kissed Jesus Christ, as who should say, O my good Master, They seek for thee, see how thine enemies compass thee, seeking to take away thy life, and to cut thee of, from amongst men if they once lay hold on thee. Now this seemed to be a sign of great compassion in Judas. But it is said soon after that Jesus Christ rebuked him, saying, Friend, Wherefore art thou come? Which is as much as if he had said, Thou wicked man which hast sit at my Table with me, and wast as one of my own body, when we were united together as the children of God (for as I was your head, even so did I acknowledge you to be as my members) and now thou comest be betray me, yea even with a kiss. And hereupon we have to note, that the Son of God must needs be marked, that the Scripture might be the better thought of and believed, and we might know, that GOD had chosen him to be our redeemer. For all this was prefigured in the person of David, who was as it were a Mirror and image of the Son of God. And again, he sayeth they were no strangers that showed themselves his open enemies:¹ But it was (sayeth he (even my familiar friend whom I trusted, who eat of my bread, that traitorously lifted up the heel against me, it is he even he, that hath circumvented me, and falsely betrayed me. Yea, even the very self same man (as it is said in another place) which accompanied me to go into the house of the Lord together.² As if he he should have said, it was not only a familiar and gentle kind of friendship, as should be between men that live in common one with another: But also an holy brotherhood consecrated unto the name of the Lord.

And the maner of the Iewes was altogether to kisse one another, as wée sée by the holy Scripture. Moreouer, a man would thinke it very strange, that Iudas being gone form the cō pany of Iesus Christ but a while before, to wit, euen the selfesame night before, returned and kissed him, as if hée had come from some farre iourney. But he vsed this maner of curtesie because hée came lyke a man halfe afraide. And marke, why it is