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…

Nevertheless, we shall never be able to feel the savour of it, without this thing be observed, which Saint Paul namely setteth down in this place: to wit, that our Lord Jesus Christ will not come, to be only revenged of his enemies, and of all such as have been enemies unto his Gospel but also, To be glorified, and made wonderful in his saints, and in those which have believed.

Neuerthelesse, we shall neuer be able to féele the sauour of it, without this thing be obserued, which Saint Paule namely setteth downe in this place: to wit, that our Lorde Iesus Christ will not come, to be onely reuenged of his enemies, and of all such as haue been enimies vnto his Gospel but also, To bee glorified, and made wonderfull in his saints, and in those which haue beleeued.

Now, whenas Saint Paul did set down this, it is as much as if he had said, that he would come to make us partakers of his glory: That whatsoever is in him, worthy reverence and honour all that, I say, shall be communicated unto us. To be short, S. Paul sayeth, That our Lord Jesus Christ shall not come him self alone, and keep his glory to him self, but to the end it might be poured out upon all the members of his body. And for this cause we see it is said in the Colossians, That our life lieth now hid,¹ but that it shall appear at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. And therefore he shall not come particularly for him self, and for his own glory alone, but rather that we might be partakers thereof: and not in such sort neither, but that he always hath a great prerogative over his children, for it is good reason he should be the head of his Church. And to say the trueth, the glory which he communicateth with us, is not derogatory from his, neither yet is it thereby made any whit less, howbeit we must be transformed, as Saint Paul sayeth to the Philippians:² and where we are now so full of infirmities as is lamentable, it cannot be chosen but that our life must be made like unto the heavenly life of our Lord Jesus Christ. And so, when Saint Paul spake after that manner, he namely had regard unto the state of the faithful, as it is in this world: For we are noted, pointed at with the finger, and our tongues pulled out: we see how the wicked and ungodly make a jest at the children of God: and it is meet we should be made thus contemptible, to the end we might learn to look for no glory here in this world. Howbeit, God will, when it pleaseth him, have us exalted above them all: but his meaning, in the mean