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…

He shall so come. I have said before that by this consolation all sorrow ⟨p. 15⟩which we might conceive, because of Christs absence, is mitigated, yea utterly taken away, when as we hear that he shall return again. And also the end, for which he shall come again, is to be noted: namely, that he shall come as a redeemer, & shall gather us with him into blessed immortality. For as he doth not now sit idle in heaven (as Homer signifieth that his gods be busied only about their bellies:) so shall not he appear again without profit. Therefore the only looking for Christs coming, must both restrain the importunate desires of our flesh, & support our patience in all our adversities: & lastly it must refresh our weariness. But it worketh this only in the faithful, which believe that Christ is their redeemer. For it bringeth unto the wicked nothing but dread, horror, & great fearfulness. And howsoever they do now scoff & jest when as they hear of his coming, yet shall they be compelled to behold him sitting upon his tribunal seat, whom now they will not vouchsafe to hear speak. Furthermore it were but frivolous to move any question about his apparel, wherewith he was then clothed,¹ whether he shall come again being clothed with the same or no. Neither am I now determined to refute that which Augustine in his Epistle unto Consentius doth touch: notwithstanding it is better for me to omit that thing which I cannot unfold.

He shall so come. I haue said before that by this consolation all sorrowe ⟨p. 15⟩which we might conceiue, because of Christs absence, is mitigated, yea vterly taken away, when as we heare that he shall return again. And also the end, for which he shall come again, is to bee noted: namely, that hee shall come as a redeemer, & shal gather vs with him into blessed immortalitie. For as he doth not now sit idle in heauen (as Homer signifieth that his gods be busied only about their bellies:) so shal not he appeare again without profit. Therfore the only looking for Christs cōming, must both restrain the importunate desires of our flesh, & support our patience in all our aduersities: & lastly it must refresh our wearines. But it worketh this onely in the faithfull, which beleeue that Christe is their redeemer. For it bringeth vnto the wicked nothing but dread, horror, & great fearfulnes. And howsoeuer they do now scoff & iest whē as they hear of his comming, yet shall they bee compelled to behold him sitting vppon his tribunall seat, whō now they wil not vouchsafe to heare speak. Furthermore it were but friuolous to moue any question about his apparrell, wherwith he was thē clothed,