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 followeth, John baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the holy Ghost. And this is a confirmation of the promise which he gave them: as if he should have said, my office is to baptize, not with water: but with the holy Ghost. And God my Father hath not given me this office in vain: and therefore you must feel the benefit thereof by experience. Let us therefore understand this one point, that nothing is in vain given to Jesus Christ. Now he hath no need of this himself: But it is for his members, to the end we might all draw grace with grace,¹ out of his fullness. And so let us conclude, that since Jesus Christ hath this office of baptizing with the holy Ghost, we must needs feel it by proof, and be partakers of such a benefit: for otherwise it were but an uncertain title, and no trueth in it: which were very blasphemy so to say. We are therefore to understand, that Jesus Christ acquainteth us with such a Baptism. For, mark what it was that he said to his Apostles. Now S. John Baptist, had told the Jews before, that he baptized but with water, and the reason why he so said, was this, that they would have given overmuch honour unto him, and so have derogated from Jesus Christ. And therefore he refused this, and said, that he did but administer the visible sign of water: so that it belonged not to him to give grace to Baptism, but was the office of Jesus Christ to do it. Behold (saith he) I baptize you with water:² But there is one whom you yet know not, that hath power to baptize with the holy Ghost: whose shoe latchet I am not worthy to untie: for although I came before him, yet am I, no body, and it is he that must have all the honour. And this is the speech of John Baptist: and now Jesus Christ useth the same, as if he should say, This ought to be no strange thing unto you: for it was known unto you long ago, how that the privilege of baptizing with the holy Ghost, was reserved to me alone. Now, here might arise a question, why Jesus Christ rather spake of John baptist, than of any other. The reason is manifest: because the greatness of John Baptist, as they had abused it, was a let, that Jesus Christ was not honoured as he ought, & although he had spoken of any other, ⟨p. 156⟩yet would it have ben thought notwithstanding that John might well enough have been compared to Jesus Christ.