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…

Now, the witnesses which were brought in rehearse the very self same words, wherefore, a man would say that these were good and faithful witnesses: & yet the holy ghost calleth them false witnesses, because they turned this saying wickedly: For our Lord Jesus spake of his body, which was the true temple of his divine majesty. For the material Temple which was built in Jerusalem was but a figure, & shadow thereof, as we know: But the whole fullness of the Godhead had his being in our Lord Jesus, as S. Paul witnesseth, yea corporally and substantially. And therefore here is to be noted,¹ that we must not simply look into the words of a testimony, but to the meaning of the speaker. Now, this is a very good and profitable instruction for us, because we are so greatly given to wickedness and leasing, that if we have any colour, it is enough, and do think that God hath pardoned us, when we have by any such false means charged any man. And therefore, we must not stay simply upon words, neither yet upon the manner & fashion of them but look to the worthiness of the cause. For they which may at all times defend & say that they have deposed nothing but that which was said or done, are yet taken before god for false witnesses, as here we see: whereupon it is said, that Caiaphas said unto Jesus christ What is the matter? answerest thou nothing? seest thou not that these men witness against thee? And yet Jesus Christ all this while, held his peace, & put up all these reviling and slanderous words. Now, it may be thought a strange thing ye Jesus Christ who had very just occasion to disprove such a false testimony, did not once gain say it: howbeit) as I have before said, and as hereafter shall more at large appear) Jesus christ was not then to defend his doctrine as before he had done. And therefore we are wisely to distinguish of all the circumstances: for, after Jesus christ had fasted in the wilderness, god his father sent him to publish the doctrine of the gospel. ⟨p. 42⟩Now we see that all that time, he always mightily defended the doctrine whereof he was a minister: and we see also how he set himself against whatsoever might be said to the contrary. And thus we see how he discharged his duty, because he was appointed and sent to be a Minister of the word. But here is one special regard to be had:

Now, the witnesses which were brought in rehearce the very selfe same words, wherfore, a man would say that these were good and faithful witnesses: & yet the holy ghost calleth them false witnesses, because they turned this saying wickedly: For our Lord Iesus spake of his body, which was the true temple of his diuine maiestie. For the materiall Temple which was builte in Ierusalem was but a figure, & shadow therof, as we know: But the whole fulnesse of the Godhead had his being in our Lorde Iesus, as S. Paul witnesseth, yea corporally and substantially. And therefore héere is to be noted,