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…

WE saw and heard yesterday, that all the scorners and blasphemers of the Majesty of God, were no ways able to hinder and let, that the death & passion of our lord Jesus, should not bring forth and manifest the power & force thereof, even amiddest the most horrible contemners and unthankful people of the world. For, mark and behold, that notwithstanding the honorablest of the Jews, chiefliest scorned the son of God: yet had he compassion of the poor and miserable thief, and granted him everlasting life. And therefore, no man ought to darken and lessen the glory of the Son of God. Now, if any man allege & say, that the state of the miserable thief is not to be compared with the chief Governors of the Church, being the Priestly tribe whom God had chosen, for the teaching of the law: it is out of all doubt, that when we speak of the salvation which God of his free mercy purchased for us, we must not look for any worthiness that is to be found in us: But rather agree to that saying of Saint Paul.¹ That this is a true doctrine, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. And therefore, when we consider of the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is meet that all men should yield, and confess them selves to be most miserable and shameful, to the end God might pour upon them by that means the treasures of his mercy, without any other regard to help us, save that he seeth us, most miserably to be plunged over head and ears. And because that this thief was a most abject man, and that God had so suddenly called him yet seeing the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he suffered for all mankind, was available unto him, the same should a great deal the rather confirm us. ⟨image 76⟩Wherefore, it is out of all question, that God, here thrusteth out his hand as it were, to all those who think them selves worthy thereof, and deserve it, or at the least to such as the common people thought the most excellent. But when he pulleth damned souls out of the pit of hell, and when he showeth himself merciful unto those who were utterly void of all hope of life, herein shineth his wonderful goodness. And this is it which giveth us an entrance into salvation:

WE saw and heard yesterday, that al the scorners and blasphemers of the Maiestie of God, were no wayes able to hinder and let, that the death & passion of our lord Iesus, should not bring foorth and manifest the power & force thereof, euen amiddest the most horrible cōtemners and vnthankful people of the world. For, marke and beholde, that notwithstanding the hornorablest of the Iewes, chiefliest scorned the sonne of God: yet had hée compassion of the poore and miserable théefe, and graunted him euerlasting life. And therefore, no man ought to darken and lessen the glorie of the Sonne of God. Nowe, if any man alledge & say, that the state of the miserable théefe is not to be compared with the chiefe Gouernours of the Church, being the Priestly trybe whom God had chosen, for the teaching of the lawe: it is out of all doubt, that when we speake of the saluation which God of his fré mercy purchased for vs, we must not looke for any worthinesse that is to be founde in vs: But rather agrée to that saying of Saint Paule.