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…

The like rashness we see to be in all those which are ignorant. For when we shall at this day hear them cry, thou heretic: they speak it not because they are able to prove it, but the most doltish of them are carried with such a rage, as that they will (forsooth) he zealous, of the honour of God, and yet know why nor wherefore. Moreover, they must enquire whether Jesus Christ was the Messiah, or not: howbeit the Jews refused him without asking any question.

The like rashnesse we sée to be in al those which are ignorant. For when we shall at this day heare them crye, thou hereticke: they speake it not because they are able to proue it, but the most doltish of them are carried with such a rage, as that they wyll (forsooth) he zealous, of the honour of God, and yet know why nor wherefore. Moreouer, they must enquire whether Iesus Christ was the Messias, or not: howbeit the Iewes refused him without asking any question.

By this we are to learn, that if we will have such a zeal as God liketh of, we must be ruled by a true knowledge and be taught by his word. For we may utter what words, but they shall be but so many of Satan his rages, if we speak not like the Scholars of God: because he is the only competent Judge, and reserveth this office to himself, to show us, what his will is. Seeing then it is so, let us follow the word of God simply, and be quiet: and let our zeal be ruled by it, & this is it which we are to observe in the first place. But when it is said, That Pilate was more afeard then he was before, when he heard the Son of God spoken of: here we see in the person of a wretched pagan, that a little seed of religion moved and pricked him, and so solicited his conscience as that he knew not which way to turn him. He see Jesus Christ altogether deformed, and he him self had caused him to be scourged and he was before that very shamefully used, with spitting and buffeting in the house of Caiaphas to be short, a man utterly despised and forsaken of all men: and yet the name of God moved Pontius Pilate, and engendered in him a marvellous fear. What then shall we do whenas we shall become like unto brute beasts. For when any man shall speak to us of God, if we be not some way kept in & restrained, we shall after the example of Pilate, be condemned in the latter day, we shall at this day see such devilish and horrible scorners, that if a man say unto them, behold what God showeth us, and allege his word, and allow of that which they refuse, they care not, but will stop their ears, hood wink their eyes, and their minds are otherwise occupied, and so proud, as that there is no speaking of giving ear: For thus they please them selves we are at a good point (say they) and so it shall be: It is even so, yet look upon Pilate, who never had heard a word of the doctrine of God, yea he contemned the law