A17662:178
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.
But leaving disputation of words I will now begin to speak §6of the matter it self. I call therefore a Person, a subsistence in the essence of God, which having relation to the other is distinguished from them with uncommunicable property. By the name of Subsistence we mean an other thing than the essence. For if the word had simply ben God, and in the mean time had nothing severally proper to it self, John had said amiss, that it was with god. Where he forthwith addeth,1 that God himself was the same word, he calleth us back again to the one single essence. But because it could not be with God, but that it must rest in the father: hereof ariseth that subsistence, which though it be joined to the essence with an unseparable knot, yet hath it a special mark, whereby it doth differ from it. So of the three subsistences▪ I say that each having relation to other is in property distinguished. Relation is here expressly mentioned. For when there is simple ⟨image 41⟩and indefinite mention made of God, this name belongeth no less to the Son and the Holy ghost, than to the Father. But when the Father is compared with the Son, the several property of either doth discern him from the other. Thirdly, what soever is proper unto every of them is uncommunicable. For that which is given to the Father for a mark of difference,2 can not agree with, nor be given to the Son. And I mislike not the definition of Tertullian, so that it be rightly taken, That there is in God a certain disposition or distribution, which yet changeth nothing of the unity of the essence.
But leauyng disputation of woordes I will nowe begyn to speake §6of the matter it selfe. I call therfore a Persone, a subsistence in the essence of God, which hauyng relation to the other is distinguished from them with vncōmunicable propretie. By the name of Subsistence we meane an other thyng than the essence. For if the worde had simply ben God, and in the meane tyme had nothynge seuerally propre to it selfe, Iohn hadde sayde amysse, that it was with god. Where he foorthewith addeth,