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 here in the first place, that the contemners of God, and such as Satan hath altogether possessed, will use some coloured kind of religion: For a man would think, that the high Priest did his duty in charging Jesus Christ by the name of the living God. But see into what a mischief we are plunged, when Satan hath once blindfolded our eyes: for he then throweth us headlong into such shamelessness, as that we have no more reverence unto God, then we are ashamed before men. Now, this answer of our Lord Jesus, giveth us to note, that he meant to declare to Caiaphas, and the rest, that although he were for a time, as a man would say, abased, yet would not it lessen his majesty, but that he should be always taken to be the only son of God. But yet there is one thing farther to be considered of: which is, for our better confirmation, that although he was thus abased for our salvation, he lost no part of his heavenly majesty, but was contented that men should oppress him, to the end we might be fully certified, that we should be found honourable before God, because that all the shames which we have deserved, should be abolished. And therefore, because our Lord Jesus held his peace, and defended not his good cause, let our mouths now be opened to call upon God, as if we were just: for he is our advocate which speaketh for us: now then, because our Lord Jesus held his peace, he did it to this end that he might now freely make intercession for us unto God his father: and although we are but miserable worms, yet have we access to God, to call familiarly upon him & with open mouth to challenge him for our father. And this is it which he meant to show us, saying, Hereafter shall you see the son of man, sitting at the right hand of the power of God. We must therefore let slip all regard which might bring with it any offence, when as we see our Lord Jesus to be thus abased. And let us also see what the end of it was: His meaning then was to be condemned without resistance before the judgment seat of God, that we might frankly go thither without fear. Let us therefore in sum learn, that as often as we hear the passion of the history recited unto us, so to sigh and groan, since the son of God must needs so wonderfully suffer for us, as that in the mean while we tremble at his majesty, until such time as he appeareth unto ⟨p. 43⟩us:

Moreouer, we sée heere in the first place, that the contemners of God, and such as Satan hath altogether possessed, wyll vse some coulored kind of religion: For a man would think, that the hye Priest dyd his dutie in charging Iesus Christ by the name of the liuing God. But sée into what a mischiefe we are plunged, when Satan hath once blindfoulded our eyes: for he then throweth vs headlong into such shamlesnesse, as that we haue no more reuerence vnto God, then we are ashamed before men. Now, this answere of our Lord Iesus, giueth vs to note, that he meant to declare to Cayphas, and the rest, that although he were for a time, as a man would say, abased, yet would not yt lessen his maiestie, but that he should be alwaies taken to be ye only son of God. But yet there is one thing farther to be considered of: which is, for our better confirmation, that although he was thus abased for our saluation, he lost no part of his heauenly maiestie, but was contented that men should oppresse him, to the end we might be fully certified, that we should be founde honourable before God, because that all the shames which we haue deserued, should be abolished. And therefore, because our Lord Iesus helde his peace, and defended not his good cause, let our mouthes now be opened to call vpon God, as if we were iust: for he is our aduocat which speaketh for vs: now then, because our Lord Iesus held his peace, he dyd it to this ende that he might now fréely make intercession for vs vnto God his father: and although we are but miserable wormes, yet haue we accesse to God, to call famyliarly vpō him & wc open mouth to chalenge him for our father. And this is it which he ment to shew vs, saying, Heereafter shall you see the son of man, sitting at the right hand of the power of God. We must therfore let slip all regard which might bring with it any offence, when as we sée our Lorde Iesus to be thus abased. And let vs also sée what the ende of it was: His meaning then was to bee condemned without resistaunce before the iudgment seat of God, that we might frankly go thither without feare. Let vs therefore in summe learne, that as often as we heare the passion of the history recited vnto vs, so to sigh and grone, since the sonne of God must néedes so wonderfully suffer for vs, as that in the meane while we tremble at his maiestie, vntill such time as he appeareth vnto