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…

So then we see, that when hypocrites go about to hide and muffle their misdeeds, then God so much the more discovereth their villainies, and causeth all men to know, and abhor their detestable shamelessness. And here we see the reason why we have said, that we ought so much the more advisedly to come unto God, & lay open our sins, which is to this end, that it would please him to ⟨image 57⟩bury them even in the sight of himself, of his Angels, and of the whole world, whenas we, for our parts have thus acknowledged them. And in the end, the Evangelist allegeth one place out of the prophet, to show, that this is not only recited because of Judas sin, & of the devilish obstinacy of the priests, but for the condemnation of all the people in general. For there it is said, that that which was written by the Prophet was accomplished, That God was valued at thirty pieces of silver,¹ & the same was cast into the Potters field, now Zachariah, out of whom this place is taken, compareth our Lord Jesus unto a shepherd, & saith that when he meant to govern the people of the Jews, he took his staff or shepherds crook called beauty, that he might be able to say, that the estate of this people was so well appointed as was possible, if it could have bin contented to have bin guided by the hand of God. And could they desire any thing more? Now to prove that this is true, I pray you what great joy & felicity could we have, if God were not careful over us, & plaid the part of a shepherd amongst us. And thus we see what a government God used over this people, whenas this wand is spoken of, and not of a staff to lay on them and utterly to bruise them, but to guide & govern the sheep peaceably which were tractable & teachable. Howbeit it is said that he took a wand the second time, as indeed, when the people returned from the captivity of Babylon, God thrust himself into the office of a shepherd: For after so horrible an overthrow as was before, he gathered the people together, that he might peaceably govern them under his hand. But in the end they dealt so unthankfully with him, as that he could not choose but clearly forsake them. And therefore he said Ah Sirrah I see well enough how it fareth with you: and I do nothing else but lose both my time and travel amongst you. And there he spake after the manner of men.

So then we sée, that when hypocrits go about to hide and muffle their misdéeds, then God so much the more discouereth their villanies, and causeth all men to knowe, and abhorre theyr detestable shamlesnesse. And héere wee sée the reason why wee haue saide, that we ought so much the more aduisedlye to come vnto God, & lay open our sinnes, which is to this ende, yt it would please him to