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…

Thus we see what a regard we must have unto his ascension, and make it profitable unto our selves. Let us now come to the saying of the Angels, ye shall see him come down from heaven, even as you have seen him go up: meaning that we should not look for him, until he come to the day of judgement. Now, this should not only pluck all superstition up by the roots out of us, but also draw us to heaven unto him. Howbeit we have already said,¹ that we must not seek for him but by Faith. And since it is so, let us hearken to the saying of Saint Paul to the Colossians, Seeing Christ Jesus your head dwelleth in Heaven, in whom is all your life, it is meet that your affection should be on things above, although your bodies be here. Wherefore, since we know Jesus Christ to be above, we must learn to forsake the world, and be united to him. There is a great space betwixt him and us: & therefore it were impossible for us to be joined together except we should use the mean which S. Paul telleth us, which is, to mortify these earthly members: as, Fornication, uncleanness, ⟨p. 169⟩covetousness, gluttony, pride, envy, and all such like: would we be partakers of this Ascension? Then must we not separate our selves from him. But how should we be joined unto him? Forsooth, we must mortify these earthly members, and all other things that hold us here below. Some are given to uncleanness, some to revenge, some to gluttony, and other some to certain other vices.

Thus wee sée what a regarde wée must haue vnto his ascension, and make it profitable vnto our selues. Let vs now come to the saying of the Angels, yee shall see him come downe from heauen, euen as you haue seene him goe vp: meaning that wée should not looke for him, vntill he come to the day of iudgement. Now, this shoulde not onely plucke all superstition vp by the rootes out of vs, but also draw vs to heauen vnto him. Howbeit wee haue already saide,¹ that we must not séeke for him but by Faith. And since it is so, let vs harken to the saying of Saint Paule to the Collossians, Séeing Christ Iesus your head dwelleth in Heauen, in whom is all your lyfe, it is méete that your affection should bée on thinges aboue, although your bodies be héere. Wherefore, since wée know Iesus Christ to be aboue, wée must learne to forsake the world, and be vnited to him. There is a great space betwixt him and vs: & therefore it were impossible for vs to be ioyned together except we should vse the meane which S. Paule telleth vs, which is, to mortefye these earthlye members: as, Fornication, vncleannesse,