A17662:139
The Institution of Christian Religion
The institution of Christian religion, written in Latin by master John Calvin, and translated into English according to the authors last edition. Seen and allowed according to the order appointed in the Queens majesties injunctionsThe institution of Christian religion, vvrytten in Latine by maister Ihon Caluin, and translated into Englysh according to the authors last edition. Seen and allowed according to the order appointed in the Quenes maiesties iniunctions
London: printed by Reinolde Wolfe & Richard Harison, 1561London: printed by Reinolde VVolfe & Richarde Harison, 1561
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1This is easy to be gathered by the reasons which he joineth to the prohibition. First with moses. Remember that the Lord hath spoken to ⟨p. 23⟩thee in the vale of Horeb. Thou heardest a voice, but thou sawest no body. Therefore take heed to thy self, least peradventure thou be deceived and make to thy self any likeness. &c. We see how openly God setteth his voice against all counterfeit shapes, that we may know that they forsake God whosoever do covet to have visible forms of him. Of the Prophets only Isaiah shall be enough which speaketh oft and much hereof,2 to teach that the majesty of god is defiled with uncomely and foolish counterfeiting, when he being without body is likened to bodily matter: being invisible, to a visible image: being a spirit, to a thing without life: being incomprehensible, to a small lump of timber, stone or gold. In like manner reasoneth Paul: Forasmuch as we are the generation of god, we ought not to think that the godhead is like unto gold, or silver or stone graven by art and the invention of man. Whereby it certainly appeareth, whatsoever images are erected or pictures painted to express the shape of god, they simply displease him as certain dishonours of his majesty. And what marvel is it if the holy ghost do thunder out these oracles from heaven, sith he compelleth the very wretched and blind idolaters themselves to confess this in earth? It is known how Seneca complained as it is to read in Augustine.3 They dedicate (sayeth he) the holy immortal and inviolable gods in most vile and base stuff, and put upon them the shapes of men and beasts, and some of them with kind of man and woman mingled together, & with sundry shapen bodies, and such they call gods which if they should receive breath and mete them would be reckoned monsters. Whereby again plainly appeareth, that it is a fond cavillation wherewith the defenders of images seek to escape, which say that the Jews were forbidden images, because they were inclinable to superstition. As though that thing pertained to one nation only which god bringeth forth of his eternal being and the continual order of nature. And Paul spake not to the Jews but to the Athenienses when he confuted their error in counterfeiting a shape of god.