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, this their ignorance should serve us for a good advertisement: For this was not spoken only for their cause, but for ours also. And therefore let us mark the saying of the Angels, that we might understand what commodity redoundeth to us by the ascending of Jesus Christ. But as touching this saying, That he should come, even as they had seen him go up into heaven, That declareth that we must not loo•e for him here below, but when he shall come to judge the world. And therefore, if we will seek for him now, we must do it by faith, which surpasseth all mens understanding. This then is the first point of this place that is worthy the observation. For since we naturally have our minds settled here below, it would go very hardly with us, if we superstitiously bent not our selves, whenas we should hear the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ spoken of. And in deed, we see that this is already come to pass, For although he be ascended into heaven, and that it is written, that he shall come down here below even as he was seen to ascend, yet are there great numbers of such as call them selves Christians, ⟨p. 167⟩who have not ceased looking for him here on earth. So that, it hath come thus to pass, that they seek for Jesus Christ in bread and wine, close him up in a Pipe, carry him hither & thither, and play with him as they would play with a Puppet. And from whence came these superstitions, but because our nature is like a s•one here on earth? Now when I say that we are given to be altogether earthly minded, it is because we would eftsoons draw god and whatsoever knowledge we have of him, to us, and make him like unto our selves. We see then by experience, that we would have Jesus Christ continually in the flesh with us: But we see on the other side that the Angels would put us beside such speculations, for they said, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven. In very deed, if we will seek for our Lord Jesus, we must lift up our minds unto heaven, but we must not seek for him after our own minds and understandings, and therefore faith must at this present bear rule over us. For, do not we know, that faith surmounteth all mens reason? Neither have we such a benefit by inheritance, but it is a grace given us of God to amend our nature.

Now, this their ignorance should serue vs for a good aduertisement: For this was not spoken only for their cause, but for ours also. And therefore let vs marke the saying of the Angels, that we might vnderstand what cōmoditie redoundeth to vs by the ascending of Iesus Christ. But as touching this saying, That he shoulde come, euen as they had seene him goe vp into heauen, That declareth that we must not looe for him héere belowe, but when hee shall come to iudge the world. And therefore, if wée will séeke for him now, wée must doe it by faith, which surpasseth all mens vnderstanding. This then is the first point of this place that is worthie the obseruation. For since we naturally haue our mindes setled héere belowe, it would goe very hardly with vs, if wée superstitiously bent not our selues, whenas wée shoulde heare the Ascension of our Lorde Iesus Christe spoken of. And in déede, wee sée that this is already come to passe, For although hée be ascended into heauen, and that it is written, that hee shall come downe héere below euen as hée was seene to ascende, yet are there greate numbers of suche as call them selues Christians,