The commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the Acts of the Apostles, faithfully translated…The commentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the Actes of the Apostles, faithfully translated…

Neither is that contrary to this doctrine, which is written in the second Chapter to the Hebrews,¹ that Christ never took the Angels, but the seed of Abraham. For although he took upon him the shape of an Angel for a time, yet did he never take the nature of Angels: as we know that he was made very man. It resteth that we speak somewhat of the burning bush. That is common that God doeth apply the signs unto the things by a certain likelihood. And this is almost the common order and way of the sacraments. Furthermore this was the fittest thing that could have been showed to Moses, to confirm his faith in the present business. He knew in what state he had left his nation, although there were a greater number of men, yet were they not unlike to a bush. For the thicker the bush is, and the more store of shrubs it hath, the more subject is it to take fire, that it may burn on every side: so the people of Israel were but a weak band, and such as was laid open to all injuries, and this unwarlike multitude ⟨p. 154⟩being pressed down even with their own weight, had incensed the cruelty of Pharaoh only with the prosperous success of increasing. Therefore the people being oppressed with cruel tyranny, is as it were a pile of wood set on fire at every corner, neither is there any thing which keepeth it from being consumed to ashes, save this, because the Lord sitteth in the middest thereof. And although the undoubted fire of persecution did then burn, yet because the Church of God is never free from afflictions in the world, the continual estate thereof is after a sort painted out in this place. For what other thing are we but fuel for fire? And there fly abroad innumerable fire brands of Satan continually, which set on fire both our bodies and also our minds: but the Lord delivereth & defendeth us by his wonderful and singular goodness, from being consumed. Therefore the fire must needs burn, that it may burn us in this life: but because the Lord dwelleth in the mids of us, he shall so preserve us, that afflictions shall do us no harm: as it is also said in the six and fortieth Psalm.²

Neither is that contrarie to this doctrin, which is written in the seconde Chapter to the Hebrewes,¹