The Institution of Christian Religion

Other men have largely entreated of this argument, wherefore at this time it sufficeth to touch but a few things, that chiefly make for the principal sum of the whole matter. Beside these points that I have already touched, the very antiquity of the scripture is of great weight. For how soever the Greek writers tell many fables of the Egyptian divinity: yet there remaineth no monument of any religion, but that is far inferior to the age of Moses. And Moses deviseth not a new God, but setteth forth the same thing which the Israelites had received in long process of time, conveyed to them by their fathers as it were from hand to hand concerning the everlasting God. For what doth he else but labour to call them back to the covenant made with Abraham. If he had brought a thing never heard of before, he had had no entry to begin. But it must needs be that the deliverance from bondage, wherein they were detained, was a thing well and commonly known among them, so that the hearing of the mention thereof did forthwith raise up all their minds. It is also likely that they were informed of the number of the .CCCC. years. Now is it to be considered, if Moses, which him self by so long distance of time was before all other writers, do from a beginning so long before him self fetch the original deliverance of his doctrine: how much the holy scripture then is beyond all other writings in antiquity.

Other menne haue largely entreated of this argument, wherfore at this tyme it suffiseth to touche but a fewe thyngs, that chiefly make for the principall summe of the whole matter. Besyde these poyntes that I haue already towched, the very antiquitie of the scripture is of great weight. For howe soeuer the Greke writers tell many fables of the Egyptian diuinitie: yet there remaineth no monument of any religion, but that is farre inferiour to the age of Moses. And Moses deuiseth not a newe God, but setteth foorth the same thyng whiche the Israelites had receyued in longe processe of tyme, conueyed to them by theyr fathers as it wer from hand to hand concernyng the euerlastyng God. For what doth he els but labour to cal thē backe to the couenaunt made with Abraham. If he had brought a thyng neuer hearde of before, he had had no entrie to begynne. But it muste nedes be that the deliueraunce from bondage, wherin they were deteyned, was a thynge well and commonly knowen among them, so that the hearynge of the mention thereof dyd foorthwith raise vp all their myndes. It is also likely that they were informed of the numbre of the .CCCC. yeares. Nowe is it to be consydered, if Moses, whiche hym selfe by so long distance of tyme was before al other writers, do from a begynnyng so long before hym selfe fetche the originall deliuerance of his doctrine: howe muche the holy scripture then is beyonde all other writynges in antiquitie.