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…

Now, the life whereinto our Lord Jesus Christ entered, is heavenly: for it was such a perfect condition, as could not be amended. And when S. Paul sayeth, that he liveth unto God, it is as much as that he is now clean exempt from all our miseries, and from the condition that he had before taken, which was to become a mortal man. Wherefore, Jesus Christ hath discharged all this gear, and is now rid of all human frailness, to the end that we which are his members, might hope for the like in our selves. And so let us in the first place note, that the Prophet hath here declared, that our Lord Jesus Christ rose not again, to be any more subject to death, but hath purchased everlasting life. In the 2 place we have to learn, that this was not done only for himself, but also for all his whole Church. For, when it said by the Psalmist, that God was exalted, and took the spoil of his enemies: this is to show, that when our Lord Jesus christ was lifted up after his death, that it all turned to the common benefit & welfare of his Church.¹ The overcoming then of Satan and of sin, was to this end, that we might be delivered of them, and enjoy the fruit of such a conquest, and therein triumph. This then is the very effect of that which we have to learn out of this place. Now, the whole substance of the matter is this, that we might understand, how to apply it rightly unto our own use. And therefore, when it is said, that the son of God was, lifted up from out of anguish & condemnation, let us learn, that when we are moved to become desperate, to set Jesus Christ before our eyes, since we know that he hath passed the course: & that God his father stretched out his hand unto him, that he might not be oppressed, all which was done for our sakes. Wherefore, we have a very good way to come out of our anguishes and pains, so long as we have Jesus Christ for our Captain, and follow his steps, because, that whatsoever was accomplished in him, as being our head, ⟨p. 119⟩belongeth to us, and the effect thereof will appear in every faithful man. And when his age is spoken off, it is to this end, that we might understand, that he will be of power able to defend his Church even unto the end: for he will not be divided from his body. In very deed, our estate and condition differeth greatly from his, until such time as we be taken out of this world:

Now, the life wherinto our Lorde Iesus Christ entred, is heauenly: for it was such a perfect condition, as could not be amended. And when S. Paul saieth, that he liueth vnto God, it is as muche as that he is now cleane exempt from all our miseries, and from the condition that hée had before taken, which was to become a mortall man. Wherefore, Iesus Christ hath discharged al this geare, and is now rid of all humaine frailenesse, to the end that we which are his members, might hope for the like in our selues. And so let vs in the first place note, yt the Prophet hath héere declared, that our Lorde Iesus Christ rose not agayne, to bée any more subiect to death, but hath purchased euerlasting life. In the 2 place we haue to learne, yt this was not done onely for himselfe, but also for all his whole Church. For, when it said by the Psalmist, that God was exalted, and tooke the spoyle of his enemies: this is to shewe, that when our Lord Iesus christ was lifted vp after his death, that it all turned to the common benefit & welfare of his Churche.