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…

A Man would at the first sight think it strange, that our Lord Jesus Christ would show him self after his resurrection, rather to women, then unto his Disciples. Howbeit we are hereby to consider, that his meaning was to try the baseness and lowliness of our faith. Because we must not build upon mans wisdom, but obediently receive what soever we know to come from him. Again, no doubt of it, his meaning was to correct his Disciples, whenas he sent women to teach them, because that the thing which he had taught them served them to no purpose, when it came to the pinch. For behold all the Disciples were scattered, they forsook their master, and fear overcame them. For what learned they for three whole years together, in the school of the Son of God? And therefore such frewandise deserved great correction, even to have all the knowledge which they had before time received to be clean taken away, because they had trod it under foot, & buried it. Now it was not the meaning of our Lord Jesus, to correct them sharply, but to make them amend their fault, by mild & gentle correction, in that he appointed thē women to be their School mistresses. He had before, chosen them to preach the Gospel all the world over (for they in very deed were the first Doctors of the Church) But because they were such Truants and so busy minded, as that their faith was, as it were, laid a soak or sopped, it was good reason they should understand that they were not worthy any more to hear our Lord Jesus Christ preach. And here we see the cause why they were sent back to women, until such time as they had better acknowledged their offences, & that our Lord Jesus Christ of his mere favour & grace had set them again in their estate and degree. And besides (as I have already said) we are all generally advertised, to receive the testimony which God sendeth us, and it were by the mouths of men of slender quality, & of no credit & estimation in the world, for we indeed see, that whatsoever he is, that is chosen & appointed to be a register or public person, that the thing which he doth, is received for authentical. Neither will men say one thing or another against him: because all men reverence the ⟨p. 86⟩office which he hath.

A Man would at the first sight thinke it straunge, that our Lorde Iesus Christ woulde shew him selfe after his resurrection, rather to women, then vnto his Disciples. Howbeit wee are hereby to consider, that his meaning was to trye the basenesse and lowlinesse of our faith. Because we must not build vpon mans wisdome, but obedientlye receiue what soeuer we know to come from him. Againe, no doubt of it, his meaning was to correct his Disciples, whenas he sent women to teach them, because yt ye thing which hee had taught them serued them to no purpose, when it came to the pinch. For beholde all the Disciples were scattered, they forsooke their maister, and feare ouercame them. For what learned they for thrée whole yéeres together, in the schoole of the Sonne of God? And therefore such frewandise deserued great correction, euen to haue al the knowledge which they had before time receiued to be cleane taken away, because they had troade it vnder foote, & buried it. Now it was not the meaning of our Lorde Iesus, to correct them sharply, but to make thē amend their fault, by mild & gentle correction, in yt he appointed thē women to be their School mistresses. He had before, chosen them to preach the Gospel all the worlde ouer (for they in very déede were the first Doctours of the Church) But because they were such Trewands and so busie minded, as that their faith was, as it were, laide asoke or saped, it was good reason they should vnderstand that they were not woorthy anie more to heare our Lord Iesus Christ preache. And héere we sée the cause why they were sent backe to women, vntill such time as they had better acknowledged their offences, & that our Lorde Iesus Christ of his méere fauour & grace had set them againe in their estate and degrée. And besides (as I haue already sayd) we are all generally aduertised, to receiue the testimonie which God sendeth vs, and it were by the mouthes of men of slender quality, & of no credit & estimatiō in the world, for we indéed sée, yt whatsoeuer hée is, yt is chosē & appointed to be a register or publike person, that the thing which he doth, is receiued for autenticall. Neither will men say one thing or another against him: because al men reuerence the