The Institution of Christian Religion

And the confession of the holy Patriarch doeth sufficiently declare that he was not a created Angel, but one in whom the full godhead was resident,¹ when he said: I have seen God face to face. And for this cause Paul sayeth, that Christ was guide of the people in the wilderness. For though the time was not yet come of his abasement: yet that eternal word showed a figure of that office to which he was appointed. Now if the second Chapter of zachary be weighed without contention, the Angel that sent an other Angel was by and by pronounced to be the God of hosts, and to him is sovereign power ascribed. I omit innumerable testimonies on the which our Faith safely resteth, although they do not much move the Jews. For when it is said in Isaiah. Behold this is our God,² this is Jehovah, we shall wait upon him, and he shall save us, they that have eyes may see, that herein is meant God which riseth up for the salvation of his people. And these vehement demonstrations twice repeated suffer it to be drawn no otherwhere but to Christ. And yet plainer and fuller is the place of Malachi where he promiseth that he shall come the Lord that was the desired,³ to his own temple. But to none but to the only sovereign God was the temple ⟨image 43⟩dedicate, which temple yet the Prophet doeth claim for Christ. Where upon followeth that Christ is the same God that was ever honoured among the Jews.

And the confession of the holye Patriarche doeth sufficiently declare that he was not a created Angell, but one in whom the full godhead was residente,¹ when he saied: I haue seen God face to face. And for thys cause Paule sayeth, that Chryste was guide of the people in the wyldernesse. For thoughe the tyme was not yet come of his abacemente: yet that eternall worde shewed a figure of that office to whiche he was appointed. Nowe if the seconde Chapter of zacharie be weyed withoute contencion, the Angell that sente an other Angell was by and by pronounced to be the God of hostes, and to hym is soueraigne power ascribed. I omitte innumerable testimonies on the which oure Fayth safelye resteth, althoughe they doe not muche moue the Iewes. For when it is saied in Esaie. Beholde this is our God,