The Institution of Christian Religion

And why should John stick to apply the majesty of God to Christ which in his preface had said that the word was alway God? Why should Paul fear to set Christ in the judgement throne of God,¹ having before with so open proclamation declared his Godhead, where he said that he was God blessed to the end of Worlds? And to make appear, how well he agreeth in this point with himself, in an other place he writeth that Christ is God openly showed in the flesh. If he be God to be praised to the end of worlds,² then he is the same he to whom in an other place he affirmeth all glory and honour to be due. And thus he hideth not, but plainly crieth out, that he would have counted it no robbery if he had showed himself equal with God,³ but that he willingly abased himself. And that the wicked should not carp that he is some made GOD, John ⟨p. 35⟩goeth further and saith. He is the true God & the eternal life. Although it ought abundantly to satisfy us,⁴ that he is called God, specially of that witness which expressly affirmeth unto us that there are no moe gods but one.⁵ That same witness is Paul, which sayeth thus. How many soever be called gods either in heaven or in earth, to us there is but one God from whom are all things. When we hear of the same mouth, that God was openly showed in the flesh, that God with his own blood purchased the church to himself: why should we imagine a second God which he himself acknowledgeth not? And it is no doubt that all the godly were of the same meaning. Likewise Thomas in protesting him to be his Lord and his God, doeth profess that he is that only one God whom he had alway worshipped.

And why shoulde Ihon sticke to apply the maiestie of God to Chryste whiche in hys preface had sayed that the worde was alwaye God? Why shoulde Paule feare to sette Chryste in the iudgemente throne of God,