The Institution of Christian Religion

whereby they signify, that so great is the brightness of the glory of God that the Angels themselves are kept from direct beholding it, and the small sparks thereof that shine in the Angels are withdrawn from our eyes. Although yet so many as rightly judge, do acknowledge that the Cherubins of whom we now speak, pertained only to the old manner of introduction as it were of children used in the law. So to draw them now for an example to our age▪ is an absurdity. For that childish age, as I may so term it, is passed, for the which such rudiments were appointed. And it is much shame, that the paynim writers are better expounders of the law of God than the Papists are. Juvenal reproacheth the Jews as it were in scorn that they honour the white clouds and the deity of the heaven. I grant he speaketh perversely and wickedly: and yet he speaketh more truly in saying that they have among them no image of God, than the papists do which prate that they had a visible image of god. And whereas that people with a certain hot hastiness, brake out oftentimes to seek them idols, even as waters out of a great fresh spring boil out with violent force: hereby rather let us learn how great is the inclination of our nature to idolatry, least throwing upon the Jews the blame of that fault which is common to all, we sleep a deadly sleep under vain allurements to sin.

wherby they signifie, that so great is the brightnesse of the glorye of God that the Angelles themselues are kept from direct beholding it, and the smal sparkes therof that shine in the Angels are withdrawen from our eies. Althoughe yet so many as rightly iudge, doe acknowledge that the Cherubins of whom we now speake, perteined onely to the olde maner of introduction as it were of children vsed in the law. So to draw them now for an example to our age▪ is an absurditie. For that childish age, as I may so terme it, is passed, for the which such rudimentes were appointed. And it is much shame, that the painime writers are better expounders of the law of God than the Papistes are. Iuuenale reprocheth the Iewes as it were in scorne that they honor the white cloudes and the deitie of the heauen. I graunt he speaketh peruersly and wickedly: and yet he speaketh more truely in saying that they haue among them no image of God, than ye papistes do which prate yt they had a visible image of god. And whereas that people with a certaine hote hastinesse, brake out oftentim•s to seke them idols, euen as waters out of a great freshe spring boile out with violēt force: herby rather let vs learne how great is the inclination of our nature to idolatry, least throwing vppon the Iewes the blame of that fault which is common to al, we slepe a deadly slepe vnder vaine allurementes to sinne.