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…

When we see that water & blood issued so out, we must remember that it was he, as Saint John sayeth in his Canonical Epistle,¹ who by his sacrifice wrought our purgation and peace, for the blotting out of all our sins. In very deed, Blood, when one is dead, will wax thick by nature, and from it will very thin water come, because the colour and thickest of the blood will go from it. But however it is, Saint John sayeth, that GOD would show for what cause the death of his son profiteth us, to wit,² in the first place, he is at peace with us by reason of the shedding of blood, for as it is said, There can be no remission of sins ⟨image 87⟩without the effusion of blood. For behold why Sacrifices were used from the beginning of the world. And God hath said, that he would be merciful to all miserable sinners which put their trust in him: But yet he would have sacrifices to be offered, as if he should have said, that men should be freely forgiven their sins, because they can bring nothing of their own with them to obtain it. But must have a mediator to recompense it. We see then that the blood which ran down from the side of our Lord Jesus, witnesseth unto us, that the Sacrifice which he offered, was a satisfaction for all our iniquities, so that we are discharged of them before God. True it is we must continually feel our selves to be guilty that we might be humbled, and brought to true repentance, and be clearly void of all presumption. But however it is, we are assured that God acquitteth and pardoneth us in the name of his son, when we come to acknowledge our sins and iniquities. And why so? Because the sacrifice of his death is sufficient, to blot out the memory of all our transgressions. It is the water then that cleanseth. Wherefore, to the end we might be washed from all our spots, let us understand, that the meaning of our Lord Jesus Christ was that water should issue out of his side, to declare that he is in very deed our purity, and that we must seek for none other remedy to wash us from all our filthiness. And thus we see how water and blood came from him, by which mean we are throughly saved in him, and therefore must make no wandlesses, to seek our aid else where.

When wée sée that water & blood issued so out, wée must remember that it was hee, as Saint Iohn sayeth in his Canonicall Epistle,