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…

Moreover, since at this day, our Lord Jesus is risen in glory, ⟨image 90⟩and although we must here suffer many miseries and calamities, and that a man would think he were daily crucified in his members, as in deed, the ungodly as much as in them lieth do: yet let not us quail for all this, because we know that we cannot be put beside that, which is promised us in the doctrine of the Gospel: and although we must run through a number of afflictions, yet let us always have an eye unto our head. For Joseph and Nicodemus never had the advantage that we at this day have, which is, they never beheld the power of the spirit of God, which is showed in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and yet was not their faith for all this wholly mortgaged. And since our Lord Jesus calleth us now unto him, and telleth us aloud that he is ascended into heaven, to the end he might gather us altogether, let us constantly persevere both to seek him, and follow him, and that it is no hurt for us to die with him, since we shall be partakers of his glory. And Saint Paul exhorteth us to be like unto Jesus Christ, not only as touching his death, but also as concerning his burial. For there are some that could be contented to die with our Lord Jesus Christ for a minute of an hour, but it would grieve them to do it any longer. And for this cause I have said, that we must not die for a while, but we must also patiently abide, at last to be buried. I call this dying, whenas God seeth us so suffer for his names sake: for although we be not at the first, condemned, and brought to the stake, yet when we are afflicted, this is a kind of death which we must patiently abide. But because we are not by and by humbled, it is meet we should be longer time scourged, and be contented, and patiently bear it. For as the Devil never ceaseth to devise whatsoever may withdraw us, and make us grow worse and worse: Even so must we all our life long fight against him. And although this be a very hard and grievous condition, yet let us tarry till the time be come, that God calleth us unto him, and not be weary in confessing our faith, and therein follow Nicodemus, but not in his timorousness.

Moreouer, since at this day, our Lorde Iesus is risen in glory, ⟨image 90⟩and although we must here suffer many miseries and calamities, and that a man would thinke he were daily crucified in his members, as in déed, the vngodly as much as in thē lieth doe: yet let not vs quayle for al this, because we knowe that we cannot be put beside that, which is promised vs in the doctrine of the Gospel: and although wee must runne through a number of afflictions, yet let vs alwayes haue an eye vnto our heade. For Ioseph and Nicodemus neuer had the aduantage that wée at this day haue, which is, they neuer beheald the power of the spirite of God, which is shewed in the resurrection of our Lorde Iesus Christ, and yet was not their faith for all this wholly morgaged. And since our Lorde Iesus calleth vs now vnto him, and telleth vs allowde that hée is ascended into heauen, to the ende he might gather vs altogether, let vs constantly perseuere both to séeke him, and follow him, and that it is no hurt for vs to die with him, since we shalbe partakers of his glory. And Saint Paule exhorteth vs to be like vnto Iesus Christ, not onely as touching his death, but also as concerning his buriall. For there are some that coulde bée contented to die wt our Lord Iesus Christ for a minute of an houre, but it wold grieue them to doe it any longer. And for this cause I haue sayde, that wée must not die for a while, but wée must also paciently abide, at last to be buried. I call this dying, whenas God séeth vs so suffer for his names sake: for although wée bée not at the first, condemned, and brought to the stake, yet when wée are afflicted, this is a kinde of death which wée must paciently abyde. But because wée are not by and by humbled, it is méete wée shoulde bée longer time scourged, and bée contented, and paciently beare it. For as the Diuel neuer ceaseth to deuise whatsoeuer may withdrawe vs, and make vs growe woorse and woorse: Euen so must wée al our life long fight against him. And although this be a very hard and grieuous condition, yet let vs tary til the time bee come, that God calleth vs vnto him, and not bée wéery in confessing our fayth, and therein followe Nicodemus, but not in his temerousnes.