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…

For if this had been a light saying, he would have passed it over lightly: But when he said that he came into the world to tell the trueth, this was as if he would have us give good ear, meditate in our hearts, and apply our minds to this doctrine: this was, to make us forsake the world and all the creatures thereof, that we might come to this heavenly King, and seek after the spiritual benefits, which are communicated to us in him, to the end we might enjoy them in such measure as he knoweth •o be most profitable for our salvation. And let us, of all that which we see to be the very summary of the Gospel, note well this saying, That Jesus Christ came into the world to speak the trueth: to the end we might hereupon conclude, that whensoever we shall give diligent ear unto his word, that it shall not be in vain: because this is a certain & resolute conclusion, that whatsoever he had given them the choice either of Jesus, or Barabbas, who (as S. John saith) was a thief:¹ and the other Evangelists say, that he was a notorious naughty man, both a murderer, and a sower of sedition and trouble in the Town. Now, this was a detestable pestilence of all others: and yet the people cried out, Let us have Barabbas, and let him be pardoned, and Jesus Christ crucified. By this custom of letting loose a prisoner at Easter, we see with what foolish devotions men are carried. For they thought the feast to be so much the more honourable, in the loosing of a prisoner, and that they did God great service: and yet all was very abominable: For it is said, That he that justifieth the wicked,² & he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination unto the Lord And therefore it is meet that they which sit in the place of justice should be of upright minds: For when he armeth them with his sword, he sayeth not, do as you think good your selves. For his meaning is, that they should have a fatherly care over the people, and to be very wary how they lift up them selves cruelly, to wrong others, by abusing of their credit and authority, but would have them rather be gentle and pitiful. Yet must they punish wickedness, for God so commandeth them. But what do we men? Forsooth, we think we honour the feast of Easter, when as we offend God, and manifestly transgress his word.

For if this had béen a light saying, hee would haue passed it ouer lightly: But when he said that he came into the worlde to tell the trueth, this was as if he would haue vs giue good eare, meditate in our heartes, and apply our mindes to this doctrine: this was, to make vs forsake the world and all the creatures thereof, that wée might come to this heauenly King, and séeke after the spirituall benefites, which are communicated to vs in him, to the ende we might enioy them in such measure as he knoweth o be most profitable for our saluation. And let vs, of all that which we sée to bée the verie summarie of the Gospell, note well this saying, That Iesus Christ came into the world to speake the trueth: to the end we might herevpon conclude, that whensoeuer we shall giue diligent eare vnto his worde, that it shall not be in vaine: because this is a certaine & resolute conclusiō, that whatsoeuer he had giuen them the choyse either of Iesus, or Barabbas, who (as S. Iohn saith) was a théefe: