A17690:183
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…
Divers sermons of Master John Calvin, concerning the divinity, humanity, and nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ as also touching his passion, death, resurrection, ascension: together with the coming down of the holy Ghost upon his Apostles: and the first sermon of S. Peter. The order of which you shall find in the page ensuing.Diuers sermons of Master Iohn Caluin, concerning the diuinitie, humanitie, and natiuitie of our Lorde Iesus Christe as also touching his passion, death, resurection, ascention: togeather with the comming downe of the holy Ghoste vpon his Apostles: and the first sermon of S. Peter. The order of which you shall finde in the page ensuing.
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for George Byshop, 1581
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
For by this he pretended to appease the stir of the people. Now, if our Lord Jesus had bin thus delivered, what had become of the Gospel, and of the salvation of ⟨image 62⟩the world? For this correction which Pilate, brought him to, was a sign and token of dishonesty for ever, as if the Gospel had been a wicked doctrine, considering, that the Judge of the country condemned it: and the person of our Lord Jesus Christ was clearly refused. And yet, had we all bin lost, because there was none other mean to reconcile us unto God, but by the death of his only son. And thus we see that the death of our Lord Jesus, was the very open way unto life. So then, we see that the Devil did the best he could not to have our Lord Jesus to dye: and yet who clapped, the Priests & their like, upon the backs to pursue Jesus Christ unto death, but the Devil himself? This is very true. for he bewitched them: & as we see that God sendeth the spirit of trouble & madness upon all the ungodly, so that they are one against an other: even as the waves of the Sea beat one an other: even so was the Devil carried, when as on the one side, he went about to abolish the memory of our Lord Jesus Christ, & besides, on the other side, meant to hinder the redemption of mankind. But God so handled the matter, as that the very mouth of the Judge should bear witness of the innocency of his son: & yet for all that he hath promised he will perform. And therefore when David would strengthen him self against all temptations,1 he saith that the word of God was like unto silver which had been seven times purified in the fire. Even so, as oftentimes as we doubt of the promises of our lord Jesus Christ, and shall be troubled and grieved (as that is the subtlety of Satan, to make us loath our selves, & to be out of heart.) Let us return unto this testimony, that however it is, our Lord Jesus Christ hath appeared unto the world, that he might be a faithful witness for us: and let us at this day be assured, that he in effect showeth us, that he hath not given us all these promises in vain, because he will without all doubt perform them. And thus much we have in sum to consider of. Moreover when Pilate said, What is the truth? Let us note that when he moved this question, he spake it not for any desire to learn, but after a despiteful & scornful manner:
For by this he pretended to appease the stirre of the people. Now, if our Lord Iesus had bin thus deliuered, what had become of the Gospell, and of the saluation of