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 we are here to note all the circumstances of this matter, for God would not have any one of them to be lost, nor yet overslipped: such is his infinite wisdom over all the world. If the Angels then, have such a Majesty in their appearance unto us, what shall we say of the glorious appearing of our good God? For, the brightness of God his glorious Majesty, is not only as the brightness of the Sun, but far excelling the brightness of an hundred thousand Suns, if they shone here all at once in the world. So then, whenas we see that the Angels should be so precious unto us, as that we should so wonderfully reverence them, we must consider what the Majesty of God is to be spoken of, yea even the very thinking of him, should cause us marvellously to worship him, and acknowledge our selves to be no body, in respect of him, who is majesty it self. And thus we see what is meant by the speaking of the majesty of Angels, although they appear but in mens shapes? Now let us come to their speech, Ye men of Galilee (say they) why stand ye gazing up into heaven? It is commonly thought that the Apostles were here called Galileans by way of reproach: for we see that the Galileans were of no great estimation in the world And therefore this was the opinion that went of them, as if the Angels should have said, O ye miserable blockheads, know ye not that as he is ascended up into heaven, that so he shall also come again? Howbeit you perceive not why this was thus spoken, and in this sense. And therefore, let us understand, that the angels called the Apostles galileans, because they were taken to be such, & Jesus Christ was also so called: and when the Disciples should have been accused to be of the company of Jesus Christ, it was asked them,¹ Are not you also of Galilee: And sithence the death of our Lord Jesus, ⟨image 173⟩the wicked have used this saying, as may be perceived by the wicked Apostate Julian, who at his death said, Thou hast overcome me O Galilean: being angry and despited with Jesus Christ, because he felt that he had overcome him. And so were the Apostles called here Galileans, because they were taken, for those country men.

Now we are héere to note all the circumstances of this matter, for God would not haue any one of them to be lost, nor yet ouerslipt: such is his infinite wisedome ouer all the worlde. If the Angels then, haue such a Maiestie in their appearance vnto vs, what shall we say of the glorious appearing of our good God? For, the brightnesse of God his glorious Maiestie, is not only as the brightnesse of the Sunne, but farre excelling the brightnesse of an hundred thousand Sunnes, if they shoane héere all at once in ye world. So then, whenas wée sée that the Angels should be so precious vnto vs, as that wée should so wonderfully reuerence them, we must consider what the Maiestie of God is to bée spoken of, yea euen the very thinking of him, shoulde cause vs meruellously to worship him, and acknowledge our selues to be no body, in respect of him, who is maiestie it selfe. And thus wée sée what is meāt by the speaking of the maiestie of Angels, although they appeare but in mens shapes? Now let vs come to their spéech, Yee men of Galilee (say they) why stand yee gazing vp into heauen? It is cōmonly thought that the Apostles were héere called Galileans by way of reproche: for wée sée that the Galileans were of no greate estimation in the world And therfore this was the opiniō that went of thē, as if the Angels should haue said, O yée miserable blockheads, know ye not that as hée is ascended vp into heauen, that so hee shall also come againe? Howbeit you perceiue not why this was thus spoken, and in this sense. And therefore, let vs vnderstand, that the angels called the Apostles galileans, because they were taken to be such, & Iesus Christ was also so called: and when ye Disciples should haue béen accused to be of ye company of Iesus Christ, it was asked thē,