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 as for Judas, it is said, that when he see our Lord Jesus Christ to be condemned, he desperately hung himself. Now, he should (as we have said) have taken a good hart with him, to have put his trust in God, by reason of the condemnation of our Lord Jesus Christ: because we are pardoned by the power and virtue thereof. Howbeit, it was meet that these two spectacles should here be set before us, to the end we might the better know, that if we are not called by an especial grace and favour, to be partakers of the fruit of the death and passion of the son of God, it will avail us nothing. And therefore, it is not enough that our Lord Jesus Christ suffered, without the benefit which he obtained for us, be bestowed upon us, & we to have the full possession thereof. And even then are we most assured of it, whenas we are drawn unto him by Faith. But to the end we might the more perfectly understand the matter, let us follow the text of the Story as it is set down. It is said, that our Lord Jesus Christ was shamefully entreated in the house of Caiaphas, that they spit in his face, buffeted him and slanderously scorned him, by calling him a Prophet. Now, all this, was to let us understand, that what soever he suffered in in his own person, was to deliver and free us before God and his Angels. For there needeth no spitting in our face, to cause us appear before God, spotted and blemished, because we are not only deformed and ugly by reason of our sins, but also full of abominable infections.

And as for Iudas, it is saide, that when hee sée our Lorde Iesus Christ to be condēned, he desperatly hung himself. Now, he should (as we haue said) haue taken a good hart wt hym, to haue put his trust in God, by reason of the condemnation of our Lorde Iesus Christ: bicause we are pardoned by the power and vertue thereof. Howbeit, it was méete that these two specktacles should héere bee set before vs, to the ende we might the better know, that if we are not called by an especiall grace and fauour, to bee pertakers of the fruite of the death and passion of the sonne of God, it will avayle vs nothing. And therfore, it is not enough that our Lord Iesus Christ suffered, without the benefit which he obtayned for vs, bée bestowed vpon vs, & we to haue the full possession therof. And euen then are we most assured of it, whēas we are drawne vnto him by Faith. But to the end we might the more perfectly vnderstand the matter, let vs follow the text of the Storye as it is set downe. It is sayde, that our Lorde Iesus Christ was shamefully entreated in the house of Cayphas, that they spit in his face, buffeted him and slaunderously skorned him, by callinge him a Prophet. Now, all this, was to let vs vnderstand, that what soeuer he suffered in in his owne person, was to deliuer and frée vs before God and his Angels. For there néedeth no spitting in our face, to cause vs appeare before God, spotted and blemished, because we are not onely deformed and ougly by reason of our sinnes, but also full of abhominable infections.