Sermons of John Calvin, upon the song that Hezekiah made after he had been…Sermons of Iohn Caluin, vpon the songe that Ezechias made after he had bene…

For this cause the devil hath alway travailed by subtle means to turn men from this that they may not know what need they have of this forgiveness of sins, as in the Popes church we partly see they say it is not but with penance and confession, and beside that, that we must bring some recompense, and if God pardon us the fault yet that he reserveth the punishment as a judge. And that this should be a derogation to his majesty, if we should say that he wholly and fully pardoneth, and they say that he must needs show alway some rigour with his mercy, & that otherwise ⟨p. 52⟩it were to spoil him of his nature: Lo how the Papists have treated of the remission of sins, so that if a man should say unto them that God pardoneth our sins of his mere goodness, this should be to them as a blasphemy, for (say they) we must make satisfaction. And what is that? works above measure, which we do more than god commā death us in his law. It is certain that these are detestable sayings. But howsoever it be the pore world hath ben so made drunk with such sorceries. So much the more then must we note this place where it is said that God in receiving us to mercy, will enter no more into account with us, as Hezekiah saith here. Thou haste caste my sins behind thy back.

For this cause the deuill hath alwaye trauailed by suttle meanes to tourne men from this that they may not knowe what nede they haue of thys forgeuenes of sinnes, as in the Popes church we partly see they say it is not but with penance and confession, and beside that, that we muste bringe some recompence, and if God pardon vs the fault yet that he reserueth the punishment as a iudge. And that this should be a derogation to his maiestie, if we should say that he wholly and fully pardoneth, and they saye that he muste nedes shewe alwaye some rigor with his mercy, & that otherwyse ⟨p. 52⟩it were to spoyle hym of his nature: Loe howe the Papistes haue treated of the remission of sinnes, so that if a man should say vnto thē that God pardoneth oure sinnes of his mere goodnes, this shold be to them as a blasphemi, for (say they) we must make satisfactiō. And what is yt? works aboue measure, which we do more thā god cōmā deth vs in his law. It is certain yt these are detestable sayings. But howsoeuer it be ye pore world hath ben so made drōk wt such sorceries. So much ye more thē must we note this place wher it is said that God in receiuyng vs to mercy, will entre no more into accōpt with vs, as Ezechias saith here. Thou haste caste my sinnes behinde thy backe.