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…

For the desiring of his corporal presence is here condemned as absurd & perverse. The Papists deny that he is present in the Sacrament carnally, while that his glorious body is present with us after a supernatural sort, & by a miracle: but we may well enough reject their inventions concerning his glorious body, as childish & frivolous toys. They feign unto themselves a miracle not confirmed with any testimony of scripture. The body of Christ was then glorious, when as he was conversant with his disciples after his resurrection. That was done by the extraordinary & secret power of God: yet notwithstanding, the angels do forbid to desire him afterward after that sort, and they say that he shall not come unto men in that sort before the latter day. Therefore according to their commandment, let us not go about to pull him out of the heavens with our own inventions: neither let us think that we can handle him with our hands, or perceive him with our other senses, more than we can see him with our eyes. I speak always of his body. For in that they say it is infinite, as it is an absurd dream, so is it safely to be rejected. Nevertheless I willingly confess that Christ is ascended, that he may fulfil all things: but I say that he is spread abroad every where by the power of his spirit, not by the substance of his flesh. I grant furthermore that he is present with us both in his word, & in the sacraments. Neither is it to be doubted, but that all those which do with faith receive the signs of his flesh & blood, are made truly partakers of his flesh and blood. But this partaking doth nothing agree with the dotings of the Papists. For they feign that Christ is present in such sort upon the Altar, as Numa Pompilius did call down his Jupiter Elicius: or as those witches did set down the Moon from heaven with their enchantments. But Christ by reaching us the bread in his supper, doth will us to lift up our hearts into heaven, that we may have life by his flesh & blood. So that we do not eat his flesh grossly, that we may live thereby, but he poureth into us by the secret power of his spirit, his force and strength.

For the desiring of his corporall presence is here condemned as absurd & peruerse. The Papists denie that hee is present in the Sacrament carnally, while that his glorious body is presēt with vs after a supernaturall sort, & by a myracle: but wee may wel enough reiect their inuentiōs concerning his glorious bodie, as childish & friuolous toies. They feigne vnto themselues a myracle not confirmed with any testimonie of scripture. The bodie of Christ was then glorious, when as he was conuersant with his disciples after his resurrection. That was done by the extraordinarie & secret power of God: yet notwithstanding, the angels doe forbid to desire him afterwarde after that sort, and they say that he shal not come vnto men in that sort before the latter day. Therfore according to their commandement, let vs not goe about to pull him out of the heauens with our own inuentions: neither let vs think that wee can handle him with our handes, or perceiue him with our other senses, more than wee can see him with our eies. I speake alwaies of his bodie. For in that they say it is infinit, as it is an absurd dreame, so is it safely to be reiected. Neuertheles I willingly confesse that Christe is ascended, that he may fulfil al things: but I say that he is spread abroad euerie wher by the power of his spirit, not by the substance of his flesh. I graunt furthermore that he is present with vs both in his word, & in the sacraments. Neither is it to be douted, but that al those which do with faith receiue the signs of his flesh & blood, are made truly partakers of his flesh and blood. But this partaking doth nothing agree with the dotings of the Papists. For they feigne that Christ is present in such sort vpon the Altar, as Numa Pompilius did call downe his Iupiter Elicius: or as those witches did set down the Moone from heauen with their inchauntments. But Christ by reaching vs the bread in his supper, doth will vs to lift vp our hearts into heauen, that we may haue life by his flesh & blood. So that we do not eat his flesh grosly, that we may liue thereby, but he powreth into vs by the secret power of his spirit, his force and strength.