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…

and yet notwithstanding he hath given us occasion to humble our selves, to the end we should not wax proud, and take in hand to justify our selves, or else not cast our sins behind our backs, but daily think upon them and be ashamed, whenas we see how dear a recompense was made for them. For, is this such a trifling matter? If a miserable and wretched thief shall have committed many thefts and robberies, and after that his wicked deeds were known, the son of a King should be brought to be arraigned and condemned for the same, and so bear the punishment thereof, & the thief to be discharged and pardoned, should he rejoice and make a scoff at him, whenas he see the son of a King to be put to death, and suffer the punishment that he deserved? Even so at this present fareth it with us. For, behold how Jesus Christ the only son of God is imprisoned, and we delivered, he condemned, and we pardoned: he put to all shame, and we received to honour, at last he descended into the bottomless pit of Hell, and the kingdom of heaven is set open for us to enter into. And therefore when we here all these things, is it for us to be drowsy headed & live securely, and to delight and flatter our selves in our sins and iniquities? Wherefore, let us well consider of the meaning of the holy Ghost, and always weigh these words, That it was the will of God to have him thus afflicted: as if he should have said,¹ That it is not for us to think that our Lord Jesus was forsaken, as that the wicked ones might torment him at their will and pleasure: For, as Saint Peter saith in the Acts of the Apostles, They could do nothing against him otherwise then had been determined before by the secret counsel of God. And therefore it is not for naught that the Prophet bringeth us always back to this, that we must lift our minds unto God, & acknowledge that he being judge of the world, would be satisfied for our sins & offences even in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ his only son, to the end we might be discharged of them and that it was not without cause that Jesus Christ was so rudely: handled, that we might look up the cheerfuller: and that we might understand that God would not remember our faults, with made us to be as it ⟨image 133⟩were detestable in his sight.

and yet notwithstanding hée hath giuen vs occasion to humble our selues, to the ende wée shoulde not waxe prowde, and take in hand to iustifie our selues, or els not cast our sinnes behind our backes, but dayly thinke vpon them and bée ashamed, whenas wée sée howe deare a recompence was made for them. For, is this such a triflyng matter? If a miserable and wretched théefe shall haue committed many theftes and robberies, and after that his wicked déedes were knowne, the sonne of a King shoulde bée brought to be arrained and condemned for the same, and so beare the punishment therof, & the théefe to be discharged and pardoned, should he reioyce and make a scofe at him, whenas he sée the sonne of a King to bée put to death, and suffer the punishment that he deserued? Euen so at this present fareth it with vs. For, beholde howe Iesus Christe the onely sonne of God is imprisoned, and wée deliuered, hée condemned, and wée pardoned: he put to all shame, and we receiued to honour, at last hée descended into the bottomeles pit of Hell, and the kingdome of heauen is set open for vs to enter into. And therfore when we here al these things, is it for vs to be drowsie headed & liue securely, and to delight and flatter our selues in our sinnes and iniquities? Wherefore, let vs well consider of the meaning of the holy Ghoste, and alwayes weigh these wordes, That it was the wyll of God to haue him thus afflicted: as if hée shoulde haue saide,