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…

In sum, we see in the person of this miserable thief, so excellent an example of faith as never was seen. And therefore we should be so much the rather ravished with such a miracle as then God wrought for in what state stood he? Behold he was nigh his death: he suffered horrible torments: he looked to have his bones to be crushed and broken, and to be dismembered: which was so sharp and terrible a torment, as that it was even enough to have made him have lost both sense and memory: he saw also our Lord Jesus who most slanderously was to be hanged there, as well as him self: and yet see what words he used? for he doth not only acknowledge his sins for the humbling him self before ⟨image 74⟩God, he doth not only use the office of a teacher to bring home his companion, and to set him in the right way, but maketh such a confession as is more worth then all the rest, if we consider well the circumstances. I beseech thee (sayeth he) remember me whenas thou comest into thy kingdom. How was it possible that he could conceive that Jesus Christ had a kingdom? for he was hanged on tree, and cursed of God and men. For, this saying of the law, was spoken by the mouth of God: cursed is he that hangeth on tree.¹ Neither did this come to pass by chance (as we commonly say) that God put his only son to it. And therefore, when he see Jesus Christ to be there accursed both before God, and men, yea as one thrown down into a desperate case, as far as mans reason could reach unto, he had not such a stayed brain to say that Jesus Christ was a King, without he had spoken it in faith and in spirit. For, he saw such things as might have made him decline from the son of God, & to have made him thus conclude, that it was but an abuse & mockery to trust in him: and yet he called him king, when he see him ready to dye. I beseech thee (sayeth he) save me, and grant me life: For it thou wilt remember me, that, is all the blessedness that I desire.

In sūme, we sée in the person of this miserable théefe, so excellent an example of faith as neuer was séene. And therfore we should be so much the rather rauished with such a miracle as thē God wrought for in what state stoode he? Beholde he was nie his death: hée suffered horrible tormentes: he looked to haue his bones to be crushed and broken, and to be dismembered: whiche was so sharppe and terrible a torment, as that it was euen enough to haue made him haue lost both sence and memorye: hee sawe also our Lorde Iesus who most flaunderouslye was to be hanged there, as well as him selfe: and yet sée what wordes he vsed? for he doth not onely acknowledge his sinnes for the humblinge him selfe before