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 that is this, that he must be the redeemer of the world, and be condemned not because he preached the Gospel, but that he should be thrown down into the bottomless depth, & suffer for our cause, by reason he bear as it were in his own person all the curses and transgressions of those who deserved everlasting death. Wherefore, because Jesus Christ took upon him this office, to bear the burden of all such as have deadly offended the Majesty of God, that was the reason why he held his peace. And so, let us note, that when it was meet for Jesus Christ to defend the doctrine of the Gospel, and that it so stood with his office & calling, he faithfully discharged the same. But when in holding his peace he played the part of a redeemer, as though he was contented willingly to be condemned, it was not for his own cause that he held his peace, but (as I have already said) for our sakes. True it is that he spake (as we shall ofttimes see) but it was not in his own defence, which did but so much the more kindle the rage and fury of the ungodly against himself. And thus we see, that it was not his meaning to escape death, but was contented, willingly to be overthrown, to the end he might declare that he had quite forgotten himself, to discharge us before God his father. Now he neither respected himself, his own life, nor yet his honour: For he cared not to abide all the shame and slander of the world, so that our sins might be taken away, and we pardoned of our condemnation. And hereupon it is said, That the high Priest charged him by the living God, to tell him, whether he were Christ, the blessed son of God, he answered, That it was so: But that they should see his Majesty, when it would be too late for them, because such their dealing should be their destruction and overthrow. Now our Lord Jesus Christ spake not this here, to make the high Priest and his company to yield gently, but rather to prick him faster on: and as he was before full of malice & cruelty, this was to make the fire to burst out into a greater flame, Howbeit we have said, that Jesus Christ respected not himself, but rather ⟨image 49⟩discharged that office whereof he had taken the charge, which was, to be the redeemer of the world.

and that is this, that hee must bée the redéemer of the worlde, and be condemned not because hée preached the Gospell, but that hée shoulde bée throwne downe into the bottomlesse depth, & suffer for our cause, by reasō he beare as it were in his owne person all the curses and transgressions of those who deserued euerlasting death. Wherefore, because Iesus Christ tooke vpon him this office, to beare the burden of all such as haue deadly offended the Maiestie of God, that was the reason why hée helde his peace. And so, let vs note, that when it was méete for Iesus Christ to defend the doctrine of the Gospel, and that it so stood with his office & calling, he faithfully discharged the same. But when in holding his peace he plaied the part of a redéemer, as though hee was contented willingly to be condēned, it was not for his owne cause yt he held his peace, but (as I haue alredy said) for our sakes. True it is yt he spake (as we shal ofttimes sée) but it was not in his owne defence, which did but so much the more kindle the rage and fury of the vngodly against himselfe. And thus wée see, that it was not his meaning to escape death, but was contented, willingly to be ouerthrowne, to the end he might declare that he had quite forgotten himselfe, to discharge vs before God his father. Now hée neither respected himselfe, his owne life, nor yet his honor: For he cared not to abide all the shame and slaunder of the world, so that our sinnes might bée taken away, and we pardoned of our cōdemnation. And héereupon it is said, That the high Priest charged him by the liuing God, to tell him, whether he were Christ, the blessed sonne of God, hée answered, That it was so: But that they should sée his Maiestie, when it woulde bée too late for them, because such their dealing shoulde bée their destruction and ouerthrowe. Nowe our Lorde Iesus Christe spake not this héere, to make the high Priest and his company to yéelde gently, but rather to pricke him faster on: and as he was before full of malice & crueltie, this was to make the fier to burst out into a greater flambe, Howbeit wée haue saide, that Iesus Christe respected not himselfe, but rather