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…

What then shall become of them who shall be condemned by this fear of Pilate, so long as they follow their accustomed manner of life, so that there can be nothing wrong from them, although a man do not only talk unto them of the name of God, and speak as it were sometimes glancingly, but offereth also both to teach them, & point them out with the finger, the testimonies of the Scripture? If they vouchsafe not to consider of it, nor yet give any diligent attendance thereto, must it not needs be, but that the Devil hath altogether possessed them, and give us to understand that they are very monsters, who have quite given over all the seed of Religion, and obstinately set themselves against God, in despite of nature? And this is it which we have to consider of. Now however it is, we on the contrary part also see, that whatsoever fear we have, and whatsoever our minds and understanding can comprehend for the honouring of God, will be like none other thing but as a bright lightning, which flasheth in our faces, and is soon gone. For how did Pilate fear God, we see that it stand him not, but showed so great cruelty, as if God had never been? Thus we see, that they who are not governed by the spirit of God, shall on the one side be so possessed with fear, as that they shall at sometimes be made to stoop: But yet they new gi•e over ••ting up of their horns, quickly forgetting themselves,¹ and dulling their consciences to do wickedly. For we see that Pharaoh was many times put in fear, when as he said, I beseech thee pray unto God for me, And when he see the wo•de of God so apparently Surely, quoth he, this is the finger of GOD, and I must needs submit my self unto him. But within a while after he became worse, then ever he was, even so fared it with Pilate. Now, this is to admonish us, that we make not account of the fear of GOD, as of a blast of wind, but let it be strongly rooted in our hearts. For how did Pilate fear God, Forsooth it was such a fear as made him only to be more inexcusable.

What then shall become of them who shall bée condemned by this feare of Pilat, so long as they followe their accustomed maner of life, so that there can bee nothing wrong from them, although a man doe not onely talke vnto them of the name of God, and speake as it were sometimes glaunsingly, but offereth also both to teache them, & point thē out with the finger, the testimonies of the Scripture? If they vouchsafe not to consider of it, nor yet giue any diligent attendance therto, must it not néedes bée, but that the Diuell hath altogether possessed them, and giue vs to vnderstande that they are very monsters, who haue quite giuen ouer all the séede of Religion, and obstinately set themselues against God, in dispite of nature? And this is it which we haue to consider of. Nowe howeuer it is, wée on the contrary part also sée, that whatsoeuer feare wée haue, and whatsoeuer our mindes and vnderstanding can comprehende for the honouring of God, wyll bée like none other thing but as a bright lightning, which flasheth in our faces, and is soone gone. For how did Pilate feare God, wee sée that it stande him not, but shewed so great crueltie, as if God had neuer béene? Thus wée sée, that they who are not gouerned by the spirite of God, shall on the one side bee so possessed with feare, as that they shall at sometymes bee made to stoupe: But yet they newe gie ouer ting vp of their hornes, quickely forgetting themselues,