The sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle of S. Paul too the…The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the…

but yet for all that, we must pass one step further, namely that he had not a blast of power and away, but that by his rising again, he attained such superiority, that all the world is governed by him, and he is now set down at the right hand of God his father, to maintain and preserve his servants that call upon him, and put them selves into his keeping, and hath sufficient power to overcome Satan and all the world, and all our enemies. Now then we see S. Pauls meaning: that forasmuch as we might be cast down, and our faith at least wise sore shaken, if we should look no further than too our selves: therefore he setteth Jesus Christ before us, as the true pattern, wherein we may see the thing that as yet is unseen in our selves: that is too wit, Gods inestimable power which surmounteth the whole world. For first he is raised from death: and secondly he is set at the right hand of his father. Now the speaking of Gods right hand is a resemblance taken of men. It is certain that God hath neither right hand nor left, for he is infinite, and filleth both heaven and earth, and again, he hath no body, but is a spiritual being. Therefore we must not imagine any place certain, when Gods right hand is spoken of. And when as it is said, that Jesus Christ sitteth there, it is too show that he filleth all the world with his power. True it is, that as in respect of his manhood, he is in heaven: and it is one of the Articles of our faith, that he is ascended into heaven. But yet notwithstanding, although he be absent from us in his body: and that there is a great distance betwixt us: it is no let but that he filleth all things with his holy spirit, and dwelleth in us himself, and that we be nourished by his own substance,¹ according to this saying, that his flesh is our meat, & his blood our drink. Ye see then how that Gods right hand is not some certain place for Christ to sit in, but the sovereignty which he hath obtained too govern the whole world. And (as I said afore) it is a similitude borrowed of men, as when a prince maketh his vicegerent, he setteth him at his right side, as who should say, Lo here the second person (of my Realm) whom I will have men too obey. God then in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ,² meant too show that he is our father. True it is that the whole fullness of the Godhead is in Jesus ⟨p. 51⟩Christ.