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…

Moreover we see in the person of Judas, that the Church of God shall continually be subject to much treason. True it is, that it is very much to have Satan and all his furniture against us, and all that which we have before spoken of, and besides, to have them also our enemies who openly fight against God, and seek altogether the overthrow of his Church. This, I tell you, is very much that we have to deal against such enemies: But yet it pleaseth the Lord to prove our patience herein, that is, that there should be always amiddest us home enemies, who should be full of treason and disloyalty. And although this be an horrible pestilence, yet shall the Church never be without it, nor clean rid thereof. In deed we ought to look well unto it, and keep us from it, and it is the duty of every man as much as lieth in him, to root and blot out this filthy infection: and yet when we have all done, God will have a number of Judases continually to be in it. For since, it was figured in David, and performed in our Lord Jesus Christ, it is meet that we should be made like unto him (according to that saying of Saint Paul) for he bear as it were the ensigns,¹ and badges of the house of God, being the first born of all the faithful. And therefore our estate ought to be like unto his. But we may here see, that this is spoken of a troubled conscience, when as God sendeth a troubled, frantic, or blockish mind, whereof he oftentimes speaketh by his Prophets. Wherefore, let us here look upon Judas, who showeth the reward of those which wittingly fight against God, that they must needs become so desperate, as that there is in them neither sense nor reason: and yet notwithstanding, altogether go about hypocritically to hide it, until such time as God spite of their teethes draweth, and bringeth them unto their last condemnation. It should seem at the first sight, that these two things should be contrary the one to the other, that a man should run his head against God, like a wild Bull, and so forget him as to do nothing else but spit at the Son, and be angry with nature, and yet notwithstanding goeth about to hide him self with subtleness, and thinketh to have gotten something through his hypocrisy. It may be said, that these two things agree not very well together:

Moreouer wée sée in the person of Iudas, that the Church of God shall continually be subiect to much treason. True it is, that it is verie much to haue Satan and all his furniture against vs, and all that which wée haue before spoken of, and besides, to haue them also our enemies who openly fight against God, and séeke altogether the ouerthrow of his Church. This, I tell you, is verie much that wée haue to deale against suche enemies: But yet it pleaseth the Lord to proue our patience herein, that is, that there should bee alwayes amiddest vs home enemies, who should be full of treason and disloialtie. And although this be an horrible pestilence, yet shal the Church neuer be without it, nor cleane rid thereof. In déed wée ought to looke well vnto it, and kéepe vs from it, and it is the dutie of euerie man as much as lyeth in him, to roote and blot out this filthy infection: and yet when we haue all done, God will haue a number of Iudasses continually to be in it. For since, it was figured in Dauid, and perfourmed in our Lord Iesus Christ, it is méet that wée should be made like vnto him (according to that saying of Saint Paule) for he beare as it were the ensignes,