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…

And it is added also, that the same is not only for this world, but also for the other: whereby is meant, that the knowledge which we have of Jesus Christ, will suffice us for the heavenly life. Now it should seem at the first blush, that there is some contrariety between this Text, and that which is said in the fifteenth Chapter of the first Epistle too the Corinthians. For there he sayeth, that at the latter day when the world shall be judged, our Lord Jesus Christ shall yield up the kingdom too God his father, of whom he holdeth it: and here he sayeth, that Christ is stablished in all authority, yea even for the world too come. But these two agree very well. For whereas he sayeth, that Jesus Christ hath a name above all names, and that he is the image of God his father: that is because of our rudeness and infirmity, according also as when he is called Gods lieutenant, that is, because we could not be in rest, except we knew that God hath his hand stretched out too succour us at our need: and we perceive that the better in Jesus Christ, inasmuch as he is come near unto us, and is become our brother. God than doth not so reign by the mean of Jesus Christ, that he should give over his own office, and sit idle in heaven himself: it were a lewd dotage too think so. And truly we see how our Lord Jesus Christ speaketh thereof in the fifteenth of S. John: my father and I (sayeth he) have always our hand at work. There he showeth that the ordaining of him too be ruler of the world, was not too the end that the father should in the mean while sit unoccupied in heaven: but it is said so in respect of us, too the intent that we should not doubt but that God is continually near at hand too us, when we seek him in faith. At the latter day, and after the judgement, we shall have new eyes, as saith S. John. And for as much as we shall be like unto God,¹ and be transfigured into his glory, we shall see him as he is: which thing we can not do now, because we have too dull wits. Wherefore it is enough for us now,² that we behold him as in a glass, and darkly (as saith S. Paul) and that we know him in part. You see then, that the yielding up of the kingdom by our Lord Jesus Christ unto God his father, is that we shall behold Gods majesty and substance which is incomprehensible too us as now.

And it is added also, that the same is not onely for this worlde, but also for the other: wherby is ment, that the knoweledge which wee haue of Iesus Christ, will suffize vs for the heauenly lyfe. Nowe it should seeme at the first blush, that there is some contrarietie beetweene this Text, and that which is sayd in the fifteenth Chapter of the first Epistle too the Corinthians. For there he sayeth, that at the latter day when the worlde shalbee iudged, our Lord Iesus Christ shall yeeld vp the kingdome too God his father, of whom he holdeth it: and here he sayeth, that Christ is stabished in all aucthoritie, yea euen for the worlde too come. But these twoo agree very well. For wheras he sayeth, that Iesus Christ hath a name aboue al names, and that he is the image of God his father: that is bycause of our rudenesse and infirmitie, according also as when he is called Gods liuetenant, that is, bycause we could not bee in rest, except wee knewe that God hath his hand stretched out too succour vs at our neede: and wee perceiue that the better in Iesus Christ, inasmuch as he is come neere vntoo vs, and is become our brother. God than dooth not so reigne by the meane of Iesus Christ, that he shoulde giue ouer his owne offyce, and sit ydle in heauen himselfe: it were a leawd dotage too thinke so. And truly wee see how our Lord Iesus Christ speaketh therof in the fifteenth of S. Iohn: my father and I (sayeth he) haue alwayes our hand at woorke. There he sheweth that the ordeyning of him too bee ruler of the worlde, was not too the ende that the father should in the meane whyle sit vnoccupied in heauen: but it is saide so in respecte of vs, too the intent that we should not doubt but that God is continually neare at hand too vs, when wee seeke hym in faith. At the latter day, and after the iudgement, wee shall haue new eyes, as saith S. Iohn. And for as much as wee shall bee like vntoo God,