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…

which is at this day, a vice that reigneth in many. For when we speak of the truth of God, we mean the doctrine of the Gospel: And S. Paul also so calleth it,¹ to the end we might make a difference thereof from all other knowledge. In very deed if any thing be told us which hath bin done, it is a truth: But when God calleth us unto him, and ⟨p. 56⟩would draw us from this world, that we might come to the heavenly life, this truth ought to be set in the highest degree, and should make no reckoning of the rest in respect of it. Let us now consider how the world reverenceth the word of the Gospel. The wisest worldlings (for so they are accounted) are so presumptuously blind, as when that is spoken of unto them, will thus say, what I beseech you? Have we lived thus many years in the world, and do you think we know not the Gospel, nor any thing else. But they will all be ashamed whenas they shall be told that the truth of the Gospel hath been buried, and that they ought to look more narrowly unto it: Now hereupon we hear well enough how they scoff and jest. And even so fared it with Pilate. For because the Emperor had sent him to be his Lieutenant in the Country of Judea, he thought he had great wrong done him, when a man spake of a truth which he knew not of. What? (sayeth he) thinkest thou that we are all fools? and do nothing else but lie? Are we not able to discern between good and ill? And is it meet for thee to reprove me and say, I know not the trueth, who am here set in office, and do represent the person of the Emperor? Thus we see the meaning of Pilate, which is, he proudly swelled like a Toad, and would not be so taken, as to be once thought, that he was not able to discern between good and bad.

which is at this day, a vice that reigneth in many. For when wée speak of the truth of God, we mean the doctrine of the Gospel: And S. Paul also so calleth it,¹ to ye end we might make a differēce therof frō all other knowledge. In very déed if any thing be told vs which hath bin done, yt is a truth: But whē God calleth vs vnto him, and ⟨p. 56⟩would draw vs from this worlde, that we might come to the heauēly life, this truth ought to be set in the highest degrée, and should make no reckoning of the rest in respect of it. Let vs nowe consider how the world reuerenceth the word of the Gospel. The wysest worldlinges (for so they are accompted) are so presumptuously blind, as when that is spoken of vnto them, will thus say, what I beséech you? Haue wée liued thus many yéeres in the worlde, and doe you thinke we knowe not the Gospel, nor any thing els. But they wil al be ashamed whenas they shalbe tolde that the truth of the Gospel hath béen buried, and that they ought to looke more narrowly vnto it: Now héerevpon we heare wel enough howe they scoffe and iest. And euen so fared it with Pylate. For because the Emperour had sent him to be his Lieutenant in the Countrey of Iudea, hée thought hée had greate wrong done him, when a man spake of a truth which he knew not of. What? (sayeth hée) thinkest thou that wée are all fooles? and doe nothing else but lie? Are wée not able to discerne betwéene good and yll? And is it méete for thée to reprooue mée and say, I knowe not the trueth, who am héere set in office, and doe represent the person of the Emperour? Thus wée sée the meaning of Pylate, which is, hée proudely swelled like a Toade, and woulde not bée so taken, as to bée once thought, that hée was not able to discerne betwéene good and bad.