Divers sermons of Master John Calvin, concerning the divinity, humanity, and nativity of our…Diuers sermons of Master Iohn Caluin, concerning the diuinitie, humanitie, and natiuitie of our…

But behold she saw here a far other manner of School: for she saw our Lord Jesus Christ hanging upon the Cross, so shamefully and reproachfully as that all the world was against him: and there, hung, as if God had cursed and forsaken him. And thus we see, that when we shall be brought unto such a shame, as that our minds shall be terrified with fear & grief, that God then taketh from us all earthly affections, to the end we might not be hindered from lifting up our minds unto heaven and to the spiritual life, whereunto we must attain. Which we shall never be able to come unto, except we be cleansed of all whatsoever keepeth us back, here below. Thus we see what we are to consider of touching these women.¹ And yet for all that, the meaning is not but that there were men also (for we know that our Lord spake unto John and commended his mother unto him). But the intent & purpose of the holy ghost was to set here such a mirror or glass before us, to the end we might understand that it was God who guided these women by his holy spirit by which he would set forth his power and grace, by choosing, in mens judgements such feeble and weak instruments. The like was also seen in Nicodemus, and in Joseph. Indeed S. Matthew, S. Luke, and S. Mark, make mention of none but of Joseph, because it was he that came to Pilate, & thereupon, Nicodemus took hart, when he see himself to have so good a guide. True it is that Nicodemus was a Doctor of great estimation: and Joseph of Arimathea was a rich man, and of hie calling, and a Counsellor also (as here it is said) But yet let us see whether their zeal was such as that they would give their lives for our Lord Jesus Christ or not, and whether they had in their life time forsaken their houses to follow him.

But beholde she saw héere a farre other manner of Schole: for she saw our Lorde Iesus Christ hanging vpon the Crosse, so shamfully and reprochefully as that all the worlde was against him: and there, honge, as if God had cursed and forsaken him. And thus wée see, that when we shall bee brought vnto such a shame, as that our mindes shal be terrifyed with feare & gréefe, that God then taketh from vs all earthly affections, to the ende we might not be hindered from lifting vp our mindes vnto heauen and to the spirituall lyfe, wherunto we must attaine. Which we shall neuer be able to come vnto, except we be cleansed of al whatsoeuer kepeth vs back, héere below. Thus we sée what we are to consider of touchinge these women.¹