The Institution of Christian Religion

but also that among so manifold miserable afflictions of the Jews, wherewith the whole nation was sometime worn to a few and wasted, and last of all, brought in manner to utter destruction, yet they remained still safe and extant. The Hebrew tongue lay not only unestemed, but almost unknown. And surely had not been God's pleasure to have his religion provided for, it had perished altogether. For how much the Jews that were since their return from exile, were swerved from the natural use of their mother tongue, appeareth by the Prophets, that lived in that age, which is therefore worthy to be noted, because by this comparison the antiquity of the law and the prophets is the more plainly perceived. And by whom hath God preserved for us the doctrine of salvation contained in the law and the prophets, to the end that Christ might in his appointed time be openly showed? even by the most cruelly bent enemies of Christ, the Jews, whom Saint Augustine doth therefore worthily call the keepers of the Library of Christian Church, because they have ministered unto us that thing, to read whereof, themselves have no use.

but also that among so manyfold miserable afflictions of the Iewes, wherewith the whole nation was sometyme worne to a fewe and wasted, and laste of all, brought in maner to vtter destruction, yet they remayned styll safe and ex•ant. The Hebrue tongue lay not onelye vnestemed, but almoste vnknowen. And surely hadde not been Goddes pleasure to haue his religion prouyded for, it hadde peryshed altogether. For howe muche the Iewes that were since theyr retourne from exile, were swarued from the naturall vse of theyr mother tongue, appeareth by the Prophetes, that lyued in that age, whyche is therefore woorthy to bee noted, because by this comparyson the antiquitie of the lawe and the prophetes is the more playnely perceyued. And by whome hathe God preserued for vs the doctrine of saluation conteyned in the lawe and the prophetes, to the ende that Christe myghte in his appoynted tyme bee openly shewed? euen by the moste cruelly bente enemyes of Christe, the Iewes, whome Saincte Augustine doothe therefore woorthylye calle the keepers of the Librarie of Christian Churche, because they haue mynystred vnto vs that thyng, to reade wherof, theimselues haue no vse.