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…

It is true indeed that our Lord Jesus spake before Pilate his Judge: but he did it not to escape death,¹ but rather offered himself unto it: neither would he accept of any occasion, to be pardoned, because it was very meet that he should be condemned in our name. Wherefore it is not for naught that the Prophet saith, that he was like a dumb man: and compareth him unto a sheep, or unto A Lamb: having regard unto the figure of the ancient sacrifices: for, when we here the death and passion of our Lord Jesus spoken of, we must take it to be a sacrifice, wherewith God the father was appealed, because that sins (as we have heretofore declared) could not be taken away, to please God, but by that mean. And to say the truth, whenas in the time of the law, men would crave pardon for their sins, there must of necessity be sacrifices done. For they were never able to make any recompense: and therefore God told them, that it was sufficient that they builded upon the promise made unto them in the redeemer. Wherefore, to the end the Jews might understand, that Jesus Christ should fulfil whatsoever was then figured in the law, this name of a lamb was namely given unto him, and under one kind, the Prophet hath comprehended all: as if he should have said, that Jesus Christ, in his death and passion, should first take away all our iniquities, because he should submit ⟨image 123⟩himself unto the will of God his father▪ and besides, that in the second place, he should be sacrificed as a Lamb, to the end that by the shedding of his blood, all our spots should be washed and made clean. Wherefore, when we shall be rebuked for a great number of faults which we commit, and can neither will nor choose but feel the wrath of God, let us have recourse unto that which is here set before us. to wit, that it was not for nought that our Lord Jesus would not answer again, although his afflictions were very extreme, and although God poured upon him his whole rigour, yet did he quietly suffer all, to the end we, by that his obedience might be reconciled. And by the way, we are also exhorted to fashion our selves after his example: not that we are able, throughly & perfectly to humble our selves before GOD, but yet we must strive to do it.

It is true indéede that our Lord Iesus spake before Pylate his Iudge: but he dyd it not to escape death,