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…

This is true, that at his death, the veil of the Temple rent in sunder, wherein God showed, that that was the end and perfection of all thinges̄, and that the figures and shadows of the law should last no longer. Howbeit the world see not this, neither was any man able to conceive, that all the figures of the law, were ended in Jesus Christ. And therefore his will was to be buried. And thus much for this point. Let us now also understand, that our Lord Jesus Christ hath purchased us life by his resurrection, so that we must go strait to him, without seeking any other means to direct us, then such as he hath assigned us. We have also already said, that he hath ordained two Sacraments for our better confirmation. If the manner of the Jews burial had been necessary for us, no doubt, Jesus Christ would have had it continue in his Church. But he would not that we should stay our selves upon this earthly and childish Elements. And therefore it is enough for us to use the plain order of burying, & leave the sweet ointments which figure unto us the resurrection, and was manifested in our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore we should but separate our selves from him, if we would be thus basely and simply instructed. For mark what Saint Paul sayeth,¹ That if our affection be on things above, we must seek it in faith and in spirit, and be conjoined unto our Lord Jesus Christ:² that we should bend our selves to him, and not be nuzzled in any thing which might withdraw, hinder, or keep us back from being united to him as unto our head, since his body is said to be the Temple of God. And thus much we are to consider of for burial. Howbeit this is also to be remembered, that he was laid in a new Tomb, which was not made, but by the singular providence of God: For he might very well have been buried in a Tomb which had served for that purpose long before. For Joseph of Arimathea had many ancestors, and in such wealthy mens houses, there was a common Tomb made for the nonce. Notwithstanding, God had otherwise provided for the matter, and would have our Lord Jesus Christ to be laid in a new Tomb, wherein never man had been laid. Neither was it without cause that he was called the first fruits of the resurrection, and the first borne of the dead: who had been made partakers of life before our Lord Jesus Christ. For we read that Lazarus rose again.

This is true, that at his death, the vayle of the Temple rent in sunder, wherein God shewed, that that was the ende and perfection of all thinges̄, and that the figures and shadowes of the lawe should last no longer. Howbeit the world sée not this, neither was any man able to conceiue, that all the figures of the lawe, were ended in Iesus Christ. And therefore his will was to be buried. And thus much for this point. Let vs now also vnderstand, that our Lorde Iesus Christ hath purchased vs life by his resurrection, so that wee must goe strait to him, wtout séeking any other meanes to direct vs, then such as hée hath assigned vs. We haue also alreadie saide, that hée hath ordeined two Sacramentes for our better confirmation. If the manner of the Iewes buriall had béen necessarie for vs, no doubt, Iesus Christ would haue had it continue in his Church. But hée would not that we should stay our selues vpō this earthly and childish Elements. And therfore it is enough for vs to vse the plaine order of burying, & leaue the swéet ointments which figure vnto vs the resurrection, and was manifested in our Lord Iesus Christ. Wherefore we should but separate our selues from him, if we would be thus basely and simply instructed. For marke what Saint Paul saieth,