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…

Moreover, herein hath been occasion taken, to say, that the baptism of John was imperfect: but this is plain deceit: for the meaning of John, when he spake so, was not to declare the truth of the Sacrament, which he administered, but only to show the difference that was between him, & Jesus Christ. And therefore although the sacrament of Baptism which John administered, and the Sacrament which Jesus Christ administered, was all one, & tended to one & the selfsame end, yet John declared that it was not in his power to make baptism of any force, But that Jesus Christ must do it. And therefore it is not to be doubted, but that he administered true baptism: For we look not to the sign, but to the truth: and yet the sign agreeeth with the trueth of Jesus Christ. But the principal matter which we have to consider of in Baptism, consisteth upon two points: that is, that we have put of the old Adam, and are renewed, & united to Jesus Christ: & cleansed of all our spots, when God forgiveth us our sins. And this is the sum & effect of Baptism,

Moreouer, héerein hath béen occasion taken, to say, that the baptisme of Iohn was imperfect: but this is plain deceite: for the meaning of Iohn, when he spake so, was not to declare the truth of the Sacrament, which hee administred, but onely to shewe the difference that was betwéene him, & Iesus Christe. And therefore although the sacrament of Baptisme which Iohn administred, and the Sacrament which Iesus Christ administred, was al one, & tended to one & the selfesame end, yet Iohn declared that it was not in his power to make baptisme of any force, But that Iesus Christe must do it. And therefore it is not to be doubted, but that he administred true baptisme: For we looke not to the signe, but to ye truth: and yet the signe agréeeth with the trueth of Iesus Christ. But the principall matter which we haue to consider of in Baptisme, consisteth vpon two points: that is, that we haue put of the old Adam, and are renued, & vnited to Iesus Christ: & cleansed of al our spots, when God forgiueth vs our sinnes. And this is the summe & effect of Baptisme,

¹Let us now consider if John did not all this. It is most certain that he did: For he came & preached remission of sins: & baptized to that end & purpose. Moreover, when he baptized, he preached repentance, which importeth as much as we have said, That we our selves must be mortified, & this corruption which we received from Adam, must be put of, that the righteousness of god might reign in us. And so, when as we have thrust out all the corruption we can, yet shall we find nothing else in us But what? we must make a difference between the person of the Minister, and the person of Jesus Christ. In deed this is true, that when we speak of baptism as it is in it self,