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…

Now, we must understand that the water in Baptism worketh not this effect. For how can a corruptible Element wash and cleanse our souls? But the matter is, because water issued out of the side of our Lord Jesus Christ. And therefore, when we would that Baptism should do us good, let us go unto him who was crucified for us, and when we would feel the fruit thereof, let us run unto our Lord Jesus Christ, who would have us seek for every part and parcel of our salvation in him, without wandering and wheeling hither and thither. And besides, we have in the holy Supper a testimony, that Jesus Christ is our Shepherd, and that under the bread, and wine, he presenteth unto us his body and blood. Here then we see the whole perfection of our salvation, when as we are thus cleansed, and that God accepteth us as if we were pure, and righteous, and are so acquitted before him as guiltless, because our Lord Jesus Christ hath made full satisfaction for us. Thus we see how we must profit by the Sacraments, by directing our whole faith unto our Lord Jesus Christ, and not to incline unto creatures. We see also how we ought to be confirmed by the suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ, and let it be always fresh in our minds, when as God showeth us even to our faces, of what valour the issuing out of blood & water from the side of our Lord Jesus Christ, is. And so, this is in sum the thing which we are to consider of, concerning the piercing of the side of our Lord Jesus Christ. And besides, when it is said, That the Scripture was accomplished, let us understand, that this was spoken long before this time, that all was governed by the secrete Counsel of God: and although the Soldiers knew not what they did, yet God effectually executed that which he had spoken, aswell by Moses, as by his Prophet Zechariah. We have already seen the testimony of Exodus: and Saint John hath also put too the saying of the Prophet Zechariah, whose words are these. They shall see him whom they had pierced. In deed God useth in that a similitude: For,¹ he setteth him self against the contemners ⟨image 88⟩of his word, whose hearts were rebelliously and wickedly hardened. Well (sayeth he) they think they make war against the Preachers of my word, and that they may by this mean stop them.

Now, wée must vnderstand that the water in Baptisme worketh not this effect. For howe can a corruptible Element washe and cleanse our soules? But the matter is, because water issued out of the side of our Lorde Iesus Christ. And therefore, when wée woulde that Baptisme should doe vs good, let vs goe vnto him who was crucified for vs, and when we would féele the fruit therof, let vs runne vnto our Lord Iesus Christ, who would haue vs séeke for euerie parte and parcell of our saluation in him, without wandring and whéeling hither and thither. And besides, wée haue in the holie Supper a testimony, that Iesus Christ is our Shepheard, and that vnder the bread, and wine, hée presenteth vnto vs his bodie and blood. Héere then wée sée the whole perfection of our saluation, when as wée are thus cleansed, and that God accepteth vs as if wée were pure, and righteous, and are so acquited before him as giltlesse, because our Lorde Iesus Christ hath made full satisfaction for vs. Thus we sée howe wée must profite by the Sacramentes, by directing our whole fayth vnto our Lorde Iesus Christ, and not to encline vnto creatures. Wée sée also howe wée ought to be confirmed by the suffring of our Lorde Iesus Christ, and let it be alwayes freshe in our mindes, when as God sheweth vs euen to our faces, of what valure the issuing out of blood & water from the side of our Lorde Iesus Christ, is. And so, this is in summe the thing which we are to consider of, concerning the persing of the side of our Lorde Iesus Christ. And besides, when it is saide, That the Scripture was accomplished, let vs vnderstand, that this was spoken long before this time, that all was gouerned by the secrete Councell of God: and although the Souldiers knew not what they did, yet God effectually executed that which he had spoken, aswell by Moses, as by his Prophet Zachary. Wée haue alreadie séene the testimony of Exodus: and Saint Iohn hath also put too the saying of the Prophet Zachary, whose words are these. They shall see him whom they had perced. In déede God vseth in that a similitude: For,