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…

Acts first. 9 AND when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up an high, and a cloud received him up out of their sight, 10 And while they looked up steadfastly toward heaven, as he went, behold two men stood by them in white apparel. 11 Which also said, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven, This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come even as you have seen him go into heaven.

Acts first. 9 AND when he had spoken these thinges, while they beheld, hee was taken vp an high, and a cloude receiued him vp out of their sight, 10 And while they looked vp stedfastly towarde heauen, as he went, behold two men stood by them in white apparrell. 11 Which also said, yee men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing vp into heauen, This same Iesus which is taken vp frō you into heauen, shall so come euen as you haue seene him goe into heauen.

Now we have at this time to handle the matter which S. Luke here setteth down, of the Apostles beholding of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus into heaven. Now, it is not enough for us that we know the history, but we are also to note that he setteth down this as a chief Article of our Faith: and surely the Articles of our faith are not only profitable, but also necessary for ⟨image 172⟩our salvation. Howbeit we shall never profit our selves greatly by the Ascension of our Lord, without we know it to be true in deed. And therefore Saint Luke saith, that the Apostles saw him ascend: and saith besides, that they abode still gazing there until such time as they were told that they must tarry no longer, but return to Jerusalem to do their office as was commanded them, until the judgement day. Thus we see what he saith of the Ascension of our Lord, to the end it might not be called again into question. Very true it is, that is said, that they are blessed which have believed, and not seen. Wherefore, we must believe this Ascension rather then if we had seen it: for since the Apostles see it,¹ and tell us of it, it is not for us any whit to doubt thereof. Let us now come, to the words of S. Luke, That a cloud received him up out of their sight. Now, here might a question be asked, why the heavens opened not, that the Apostles might have seen the glorious estate of our Lord Jesus. But there was great reason, why they should loose the sight of him, by mean of a cloud: because our Lord knoweth well enough our condition, and therefore for the correcting of our high minds, it is good we should be restrained. Yea verily, for if the Apostles had seen into heaven, we would have taken occasion thereby to have grown haughty: as we see in deed we are thereto overmuch given. For we are too too mad headed, and without modesty, to desire to understand even those secretes of God, which he would not have us to know. And therefore it was expedient that this cloud should be between them and him. By this then we are let to understand, that we must be humbled, and not be so arrogant as to ascend up into the heavens to search after the works of the Lord. And this instruction are we to learn by this place.