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…

& we also see why he behaved himself like a prisoner, & would not start away, because he knew that he must fulfil the charge committed unto him, which was, to offer himself a sacrifice for the redemption of us all: And therefore we are to learn, that forsomuch as the will of God is secrete, & incomprehensible in himself, we must have recourse unto the holy scripture. True it is, that God determineth of things in his secrete counsel, which we think to come by chance (as we say) which is not showed unto us: neither have we always a special revelation, that we are able to say, that God hath determined either this thing or that. And therefore must we suspend our judgements: for we see why it is that we pray him to heal us of our sickness, or why we would have him to deliver us from any other affliction whereinto we are fallen. And why do we so? Because we know not what he will do. In very deed, we must not appoint him a law, but that this condition must always be adjoined, that his will be done: But all our prayers ought to tend to this point, to crave at his hands whatsoever he knoweth to be necessary & profitable for us, and to leave unto himself whatsoever is laid up in his secret counsel, to the end he might do that which to his majesty shall seem best. But when we have a testimony out of the holy scripture, that God willeth any thing, we must not (as I have already said) stand against it. Now, we are here a great deal better confirmed as touching ⟨image 46⟩the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, that he was not thus cruelly afflicted, & so shamefully & slanderously handled, only as the ungodly & wicked men lusted, but because God had so decreed it. And how appeareth this by the holy scripture? For were not the sacrifices in the law ordained two thousand years before Jesus Christ was borne? And had not God inspired & taught the ancient Fathers how to sacrifice, before the law was either given, or written. Or could the blood of brute beasts obtain remission for sins, and make men acceptable unto God? No: But it was to show, that God should be reconciled by a Redeemer whom he had established: and sithens that time he hath set down an express mention and declaration by the scriptures.¹ We also see how the Prophets have spoken thereof, and namely he allegeth them.

& we also sée why he behaued himselfe like a prisoner, & would not start away, because he knew that he must fulfil the charge cōmitted vnto him, which was, to offer himselfe a sacrifice for the redēptiō of vs al: And therefore we are to learne, that forsomuch as the will of God is secrete, & incōprehēsible in himselfe, we must haue recourse vnto the holy scripture. True it is, that God determineth of things in his secrete councel, which wee thinke to come by chaunce (as wee say) which is not shewed vnto vs: neither haue wee alwaies a speciall reuelatiō, that we are able to say, that God hath determined either this thing or that. And therfore must we suspēd our iudgemēts: for we sée why it is that we pray him to heale vs of our sicknes, or why we would haue him to deliuer vs from any other affliction whereinto we are fallen. And why doe wée so? Because wee knowe not what he wil doe. In very déed, we must not appoint him a law, but that this conditiō must alwaies be adioyned, that his wil be done: But all our prayers ought to tende to this pointe, to craue at his handes whatsoeuer he knoweth to be necessary & profitable for vs, and to leaue vnto himselfe whatsoeuer is laid vp in his secret councel, to the end hee might doe that which to his maiesty shall séeme best. But whē wee haue a testimony out of the holy scripture, that God willeth any thing, we must not (as I haue already said) stand against it. Now, we are here a great deale better confirmed as touching