In Book 2, ch. 15 of the Institutes, Calvin goes hammer and tong against anyone who thinks Christ owes them an easy time in this life. Because our lives are full of misery, Christ can be king only if his promises are heavenly and eschatological; otherwise, he is no king at all. From pages 498-499:
[T]he happiness promised us in Christ does not consist in outward advantages.... No our happiness belongs to the heavenly life!
Thus it is that we may patiently pass thorugh this life with its misery, hunger, cold, contempt, reproaches, and other troubles – content with this one thing: that our King will never leave us destitute, but will provide for our needs until, our warfare ended, we are called to triumph.
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