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…

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 ⟨p. 58⟩so that what soever the Jews did, he thought it to be but a fond devised thing, and worshipped his Idols: yet the name of GOD touched him, and he contained himself thereby, whenas he hard it spoken of. And did he this for any Majesty or pomp that he see to be in Christ Jesus? No, for, the very name of God was it, that moved him to this reverence.

By this we are to learne, that if wee will haue such a zeale as God lyketh of, wee must bee ruled by a true knowledge and bee taught by his worde. For we may vtter whoat wordes, but they shall be but so many of Satan his rages, if we speake not like the Schollers of God: because hee is the onely competent Iudge, and reserueth this office to himselfe, to shewe vs, what his wyll is. Seing then it is so, let vs follow the word of God simplye, and bee quiet: and let our zeale be ruled by it, & this is it which we are to obserue in the first place. But when it is saide, That Pylate was more afearde then hee was before, when hee hearde the Sonne of God spoken of: heere we sée in the person of a wretched pagan, that a little séede of religion moued and pricked him, and so solycited his conscience as that he knewe not which way to turne him. Hée sée Iesus Christ altogether deformed, and hee him selfe had caused him to be scourged and he was before that very shamfully vsed, with spitting and buffeting in the house of Cayphas to be short, a man vtterlye dispised and forsaken of all men: and yet the name of God moued Pontius Pilate, and engendred in him a meruelous feare. What then shall we do whenas we shal become lyke vnto brute beastes. For when any man shal speake to vs of God, if we be not some way kept in & restrained, we shal after the example of Pylate, be condemned in the latter day, we shal at this day sée such deuilish and horrible skorners, that if a man say vnto them, beholde what God sheweth vs, and alleadge his worde, and allow of that which they refuse, they care not, but wyl stoppe their eares, hood wynke their eyes, and their myndes are otherwyse occupied, and so proude, as that there is no speaking of giuing eare: For thus they please them selues we are at a good poynt (say they) and so it shall be: It is euen so, yet looke vpon Pilate, who neuer had heard a word of the doctrine of God, yea he cōtemned the law