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…

Wherefore, the entrance which we have to come unto our Lord Jesus Christ, cometh not from our selves, but because that God governeth us, & pleaseth to show his choice. Now, these circumstances are greatly to be noted: we see that Judas who was one of our Lord Jesus Christ his Disciples, wrought miracles in his name: and yet what became of him? let us learn carefully to fear and walk, and submit our selves wholly unto our God: & beseech him, not to suffer us so shamefully to fall, as did this miserable man. And again, let us also beseech him, that if we shall fall at any time into the like, to lift us up by his power, that we may return unto him: not with such repentance as Judas did, but with a true and right confession. For, the wicked as it is said by the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel, will laugh God to scorn as much as is possible: because they take pleasure, & glory in their ⟨p. 49⟩sins, and in the end become like shameless whores. But yet God at the last maketh them to feel their sins, and so terrifieth them as that they chafe and cry out alas: nevertheless, they do not thus of any hope they have neither do they present them selves before God: But are rather pushed forward with a fury: and fly from him as far they can, and would be glad to pluck him out of his thorn by the ears. For there is no speaking to them, because they are angry, and rebelliously whet their teeth against him. Howbeit we must be brought to another kind of repentance: which is, we must not become like wild and savage beasts, seeing we cannot escape the hand and heavy judgement of God: but let us confess our sin, and abhor it, and still draw near unto God, with out enforcement: and worship him willingly, & confess ye we are worthy of destruction: but yet let us be assured, that although we are guilty of an hundred thousand deaths, that he will always have compassion on us, for we see how Peter repented. But the repentance of Judas ought to show us, that it is not enough that we feel our sins, but we must be fully brought home unto God. And this is a very notable thing to consider: because we see that a great number, and almost all men do flatter themselves: for they think, that if they have in word acknowledged their offences, be they never so heinous, that they are clean discharged of them, as if their mouths were fully cleansed.

Wherefore, the entraunce whiche wee haue to come vnto our Lorde Iesus Christe, commeth not from our selues, but because that God gouerneth vs, & pleaseth to shew his choice. Now, these circumstaunces are greatly to be noted: wee sée that Iudas who was one of our Lorde Iesus Christ his Disciples, wrought myracles in his name: and yet what became of him? let vs learne carefully to feare and walke, and submit our selues wholye vnto our God: & beséeche him, not to suffer vs so shamefully to fall, as dyd this miserable man. And agayne, let vs also beséech him, that if we shal fal at any time into the like, to lift vs vp by his power, that we may returne vnto him: not with such repentaunce as Iudas dyd, but with a true and right confession. For, the wicked as it is said by the prophets Ieremiah and Ezechiel, will laugh God to skorne as much as is possible: because they take pleasure, & glory in their