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…

And therefore, let us understand that the truth far passeth our minds and powers, and that GOD must be our Master, to bring us unto it: & we also very young and feeble, to receive that which he showeth us: and let us hold this trueth for so precious a Jewell, ⟨image 63⟩as that when we have compassed both heaven and earth, & think we have learned all, that it is all but smoke, and will sleet away, until such time as we build upon this most certain & unchangeable word. And this is the effect of that which here we are to consider of. Now, it is by & by said, That as Pilate was set down in the judgement seat, his wife sent unto him and prayed him not to con den Jesus Christ, because she had bin troubled with many things in her dreams▪ of him. No doubt of it, it was the will of God, divers ways, to testify of his innocency: yea even by Pilates own mouth (as already hath bin said, & as hereafter shall be seen more at large) not but that God had concluded what should become of his only Sonne. And so, forsomuch as his will was that he should be the Sacrifice, to take away, the sins of the world, it must needs be that the Scripture should be fulfilled. But it must also needs fall out that our Lord Jesus must be proved a just & an innocent man, that we might the better understand that he was condemned for our sakes, of which condemnation we were guilty: & that whensoever we hear of the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, we should continually remember our sins and iniquities. Hereupon it is said, That Pilate desired to let loose our Lord Jesus: For although he had the chiefest authority, without controlment, yet because he was in a strange country, and amongst a mutinous company, yea, & had a garrison in the town, the sedition troubled him. And here we see what the cause was why he would subtly & friendly proceed in the matter, Forsooth it was by reason that he would have appeased the people. Then it is said, that he offered them their ancient custom, which was, That every Easter he should let loose unto them whatsoever prisoner they would. For his meaning was that he should die, that he might be the sacrifice, which should be offered for our salvation & redemption.

And therfore, let vs vnderstād yt the truth farre passeth our minds and powers, and that GOD muste bée our Maister, to bring vs vnto it: & wée also very young and féeble, to receiue yt which hée sheweth vs: and let vs holde this trueth for so precious a Iewell, ⟨image 63⟩