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…

And this is it which we have in this place to observe. But in the mean while, let us also understand, that it was meet there should in the burial of our Lord Jesus Christ, be another manner, and a better savour and of greater force, then all the sweet ointments which are here spoken of. We have already said, that the Jews customably used to anoint the bodies, for the confirmation of their hope in the resurrection, and of the heavenly life: which was a signification that the bodies did not so corrupt, but that they should be preserved unto the last day, till God had restored them. But the body of our Lord Jesus Christ was clearly exempt from this corruption. Now, it was not the sweet balms which could do it:¹ but because it was said, that God would not suffer his holy one to see corruption, we see that our Lord Jesus was by miracle preserved from all corruption. And because he was exempt from corruption, we are at this present, certain & assured, of the glory of the resurrection which we have already seen in his own person: wherefore, we see the sweet savour of the burial & resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, hath so far stretched out it self, as that we are thereby quickened. What then remaineth there to be done? forsooth, let not us seek any longer for the Sepulchre, as these women did, whose ignorance and weakness hath stood us in some stead: but let us look up into heaven, since he calleth us thither unto him: and hath showed us the way thereto, and hath beside declared unto us, that he hath taken possession of his heavenly kingdom, to the end he might make a room & place ready for us,² when as we shall there seek after him. Howbeit, we must also note the saying of S. Mat. for, the angel (saith he) appeared, who so feared the Soldiers, as that they be came like dead men. The women also were in the like flight, but the Angel forthwith comforted them saying: fear you not, for I know ye seek Jesus which was crucified, he is risen as he said. We see here how God, so accepteth, of the affection & zeal of these women, as that he correcteth notwithstanding, the thing which he mislyketh. I mean, he correcteth by the mouth of the Angel whom he appointed there in his turn. We have already said that it proceedeth of the singular mercy and goodness of God, whenas he receiveth our imperfect ministry, which he might very well abhor.

And this is it which wée haue in this place to obserue. But in the meane while, let vs also vnderstand, that it was méete there shuld in the buriall of our Lord Iesus Christ, be another maner, and a better sauour and of greater force, then all the swéete oyntmentes which are héere spoken of. We haue already saide, that the Iewes customably vsed to anoynt the bodies, for the confirmation of their hope in the resurrection, and of the heauenly lyfe: which was a signification that the bodies did not so corrupt, but that they shoulde be preserued vnto the last day, till God had restored them. But the body of our Lord Iesus Christ was clearly exempt from this corruption. Now, it was not the swéete baulmes which could doo it: