A17690:143
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…
Divers sermons of Master John Calvin, concerning the divinity, humanity, and nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ as also touching his passion, death, resurrection, ascension: together with the coming down of the holy Ghost upon his Apostles: and the first sermon of S. Peter. The order of which you shall find in the page ensuing.Diuers sermons of Master Iohn Caluin, concerning the diuinitie, humanitie, and natiuitie of our Lorde Iesus Christe as also touching his passion, death, resurection, ascention: togeather with the comming downe of the holy Ghoste vpon his Apostles: and the first sermon of S. Peter. The order of which you shall finde in the page ensuing.
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for George Byshop, 1581
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Sermons on the passion › Sermon 3: The third Sermon of the Passion.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Let us therefore hereupon note, that they which are in dignity and in high degree, will not at all times so faithfully do their duties, but that they had need beware of themselves, even as of those which might become the enemies of God. And herein we may see the over gross folly of the Papists, when they rest upon this title and dignity of priesthood. For, put the case that God had commanded there should be a Pope (which never was commanded) and that his seat should be at Rome (which is yet a less matter) howbeit if all this were true, yet we see that in the person of Caiaphas and his like, as many as have been advanced to honour, may abuse their power and authority. And therefore let not us be so foolish as to occupy our heads about masks: neither yet let God lose his authority, when soever any honourable title is given us: as we see the Papists do, when as they forsake all the holy scripture & reverence their idols. Let us learn then not to lessen the glory of God, under the colour of any worldly dignity, but let him have all his sovereign dominion.1 And thus much for this point. And as for any offence which we may conceive in our own fantasies, let us mark that which is said in the Psalm (as also our Lord Jesus Christ hath before alleged) That he is the corner stone which the builders forsook.2 And who were they that were the builders of the house and Church of God? forsooth the Priests: for it is they that should indeed discharge them selves of that office: & yet they forsook the head corner stone which god had laid. And although this stone was refused, yet was it laid in the chief place of the building: that is to say, God left not to accomplish that which he had ordained by his counsel, when he raised ⟨image 48⟩up his only son, and had advanced him a great deal more, then he was before abased:3 For every knee must bow to him. Now, when it is said that the Priests went about to seek false witnesses against him, they did it not simply to forge or feinge a fault against him, but that they might have some colour and cloak to vex and grieve our Lord Jesus. And this is very true, that he spake these words, destroy you this Temple, and within three days I will build it up again. And here we see the words of our Lord Jesus Christ as they proceeded out of his mouth.