The Institution of Christian Religion

Christ (saith he) was to go by death to the right hand of the father, from whence he is to come to judge the quick and the dead: and that likewise in bodily presence according to the •ounde doctrine and rule of faith. For in spiritual ⟨p. 102⟩presence with them, he was to come after his ascension. And in an other place more largely and plainly: According to an unspeakable and unuisible grace is that fulfilled which he had spoken:¹ behold I am with you all the days, even to the end of the world. But according to the flesh which the Word toke upon him, according to that that he was borne of the Virgin, according to that that he was taken of the Jews, that he was fastened on the tree, that he was taken down from the cross, that he was wrapped in linen clothes, that he was laid in the grave, that he was openly showed in his rising again: this was fulfilled, Ye shall not alway have me with you. Why so? because he was conversant according to the presence of his body forty days with his disciples,² and they being in his company, seeing him, not following him, he ascended into heaven and is not here, for he sitteth there, at the right hand of his father: and is here, for he is not gone away in presence of majesty. Therefore according to the presence of his majesty, we alway have Christ: according to the presence of his flesh,³ it was truly said to his Disciples: but me ye shall not alway have. For the church had him a few days according to the presence of his flesh, but now she holdeth him by faith, but seeth him not with eyes.

Christ (sayth he) was to goe by death to the right hande of the father, from whense he is to come to iudge the quicke and the dead: and that lykewyse in bodyly presence accordyng to the •ounde doctrine and rule of fayth. For in spirituall ⟨p. 102⟩presence with them, he was to come after his ascension. And in an other place more largely and plainely: Accordyng to an vnspeakeable and vnuisible grace is that fulfilled whiche he had spoken: