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 here we may see why God awakeneth the consciences of those that are a sleep, and would utterly cast of the yoke, which bringeth them to a more narrow consideration of themselves, so that they shall be made, spite of their teethes, to acknowledge their miseries, and feel their sins, although they would walter themselves asleep in them. And therefore all the doubts, which all the contemners of God and the wicked have, are even so many adjournments or days over, which God granteth them, to make them void of all excuse of ignorance. But anon after, they let slip the Rein, and run at random, without any stay: as here we see Pilate did. At the beginning he was greatly afeard, but soon after he returned to his old bias again. For thus he said to Jesus, Knowest not thou that I have power to loose, and condemn thee? Let us here in the first place note, that if he had been a thief, yet could not he once remove his finger, without God had given him power. Howe then durst Pilate warrant himself such an outrageous licence, to condemn and pardon as pleased him. And surely it were much better to set at liberty all Thieves, to rob and spoil in the woods, then to set men in so honourable a place. who take pleasure and delight in their authority, and never have any care of conscience, but bring the whole world unto confusion.

And here wee may sée why God awakeneth the cōsciences of those that are a sléepe, and would vtterly cast of the yoke, which bringeth them to a more narrow consideration of themselues, so that they shalbe made, spite of their téethes, to acknowledge their miseries, and féele their sinnes, although they woulde walter themselues asléepe in them. And therefore all the doubtes, which all the contemners of God and the wicked haue, are euen so many adiournaments or dayes ouer, which God graunteth them, to make them voide of all excuse of ignorance. But anon after, they let slippe the Reine, and runne at randon, without any stay: as héere wée sée Pilate did. At the beginning hée was greatly afearde, but soone after hée returned to his olde byas againe. For thus he saide to Iesus, Knowest not thou that I haue power to loose, and condemne thee? Let vs héere in the first place note, that if he had béene a théefe, yet could not he once remoue his finger, without God had giuen him power. Howe then durst Pilate warrant himselfe such an outragious licence, to condemne and pardon as pleased him. And surely it were much better to set at libertie all Théeues, to robbe and spoyle in the woods, then to set men in so honorable a place. who take pleasure and delight in their authoritie, and neuer haue any care of conscience, but bring the whole worlde vnto confusion.