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 although the fear and joy which these women had, be accounted and condemned for a fault, yet we see that God continually governed them by his holy spirit, and that the message which the Angel delivered unto them, was not altogether unprofitable. We are now to look further into the matter: and that is this, that Lord Jesus appeared in the way unto them, and said, fear ye not but go and tell my Brethren, that they meet altogether in Galilee, and there they shall see me. We see here in this place, a great deal more, how that the son of God draweth us unto him by degrees, until such time as we be throughly confirmed, whereof we have great need. Now, this was sufficient enough that the women had hard the message delivered by the mouth of the Angel, & the signs and tokens were such as that they could not choose but think that he was sent from God, for his face did shine, as it were. In very deed, the whit garment and such like, was not, lively to express the majesty of God, howbeit the women had an assured testimony that it was not a mortal man which spake, but an Angel from heaven. And therefore, this was a sufficient testimony unto them, but yet they were a great deal the more assured, whenas they had seen our Lord Jesus, whom they before knew to be the son of God, & his unchangeable truth. And this more fully ratified the thing, which they had before heard by the mouth of the Angel. And thus we see how we may increase in faith: for at the first, we shall not be able to understand, what power and effect is in the word of God, but if we be taught well, something we learn by it, and yet is this little or nothing God wat: howbeit, God by little and little toucheth us with his holy spirit, & in the end showeth us that it is he himself which speaketh. And then are we fully resolved, insomuch as we have not only some knowledge, but we are also so persuaded, as that when the devil shall go about to devise whatsoever he can possibly, yet shall he never be able to shake our faith, because we hold this principle, that the son of God is our teacher, upon whom we stay, because we know him to have all mastership over us, & is worthy of most excellent authority. And this we see was in these women. Indeed, God worketh not alike, in all men.

And although the feare and ioy which these women had, be accomted and condemned for a falt, yet we sée that God continually gouerned them by his holy spirit, and that the message which the Angel deliuered vnto them, was not altogether vnprofitable. We are now to looke farder into the matter: and that is this, that Lord Iesus appeared in the way vnto them, and said, feare ye not but goe and tell my Brethren, that they meete altogether in Galile, and there they shall see mee. We see héere in this place, a great deale more, how that the sonne of God draweth vs vnto him by degrées, vntill such time as we be throughly confirmed, whereof wee haue great néede. Now, this was sufficient enough that the women had hard the message deliuered by the mouth of the Angel, & the signes and tokens wer such as that they could not chuse but think that he was sent from God, for his face did shine, as it were. In very déede, the whit garment and such like, was not, liuely to expresse ye maiestie of God, howbeit the women had an assured testimony that it was not a mortall man which spake, but an Angell from heauen. And therfore, this was a sufficiēt testimony vnto thē, but yet they were a great deale the more assured, whenas they had séene our Lord Iesus, whom they before knew to be the sonne of God, & his vnchaungable truth. And this more fully ratified the thing, which they had before heard by the mouth of the Angel. And thus wee sée how we may encrease in faith: for at the first, we shal not be able to vnderstand, what power and effect is in the worde of God, but if we be taught well, somthing we learne by it, and yet is this litle or nothing God wat: howbeit, God by litle and litle toucheth vs wt his holy spirit, & in the end sheweth vs that it is he himselfe which speaketh. And then are we fully resolued, insomuch as we haue not only some knowledge, but we are also so perswaded, as yt when the deuill shall go about to deuise whatsoeuer he can possibly, yet shall he neuer be able to shake our faith, because we hold this principle, that the sonne of God is our teacher, vpon whom we stay, because we know him to haue all mastership ouer vs, & is worthy of most excellent authority. And this we sée was in these women. Indéede, God worketh not alike, in al men.