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…

Here then we see why the Evangelist maketh this recital, that when Judas came to restore the silver, the priests were no whit moved therewith. Indeed, they said it was not lawful to put it into the treasury, because it was the price of blood. And here also we may see, that hypocrites will always be sure to have some fine shifts or other, to shadow and cover their iniquities, but it is all to mock God: For they never come perfectly and soundly unto him. For, what is this to say, ho, surely we will never put this silver amongst the holy offerings, because it is the price of blood. Now, I pray you tell me, from whence came this silver? truly, we know this, that the priests lived upon the offerings of the temple: as at this day, they which in popery, are called prelates and churchmen, gluttonously consume the offerings, and never care to what use they put them. But although the Priests took from the oblations of the temple, the silver which they gave to Judas, they never cared, nor yet respected it: & now they make a doubt to put yt silver again into the Treasury. But by your leave, they thrust back Judas as it were after a scoffing manner, & as if they should have said, now sir, this villain ⟨p. 50⟩hath betrayed his master, & it is no matter to us whether he hath done well or ill: nevertheless, because we for our parts will not be partakers of his offence, and make clean hands of it (because they had bestowed this money to such an use) we will buy a field with it to bury strangers in. As who should say, that they had satisfied God well enough, & that he could desire no more at their hands, although they had offended in that thing which they did. Thus we see, that hypocrites will be sure to have wherewith to make satisfaction, and so think by this mean to buy out them selves: howbeit these are but childish toys. Nevertheless, let us understand, that this thing is set down unto us, that we might know, that when we have fallen, we should acknowledge our faults indeed, and not go about the bush this way and that way, but wholly and freely condemn our selves, & this is it, which we are here showed.

Héere then wee sée why the Euangelist maketh this recitall, that when Iudas came to restore the siluer, the priestes were no whit moued therewith. Indéede, they sayde it was not lawfull to put it into the treasury, because it was the price of blood. And héere also we may sée, that hypocrits will alwaies be sure to haue some fine shifttes or other, to shadow and couer their iniquities, but it is all to mock God: For they neuer come perfectly and soundly vnto him. For, what is this to say, ho, surely we wyll neuer put this siluer amongst the holye offerings, because it is the price of blood. Now, I pray you tel mée, from whence came this siluer? truly, we know this, that ye priests liued vpon the offerings of the temple: as at this day, they whiche in popery, are called prelats and churchmen, glottonously consume the offrings, and neuer care to what vse they put them. But although the Priests took from the oblations of the temple, the siluer which they gaue to Iudas, they neuer cared, nor yet respected it: & now they make a doubt to put yt siluer againe into the Treasurie. But by your leaue, they thrust back Iudas as it were after a scoffing maner, & as if they should haue sayd, now sir, this villaine