A17662:216
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.
Whereas they heap up many places out of Ireneus, where he affirmeth §27that the Father of Christ is the only and eternal God of Israel: that is either done of a shameful ignorance, or of an extreme wickedness. For they ought to have considered, that then the holy man had to do in disputation with those phrentyke men, that denied that the Father of Christ was the same God that in old time spake by Moses and the Prophets, but that he was I wot not what imagined thing brought out of the corruption of the world. Therefore he altogether travaileth in this point, to make it plain that there is no other God preached of in the Scripture ⟨image 51⟩but the father of Christ, and that it is amiss to devise any other, and therefore it is no marvel if he so oft conclude that there was no other God of Israel, but he that was spoken of by Christ and the Apostles. And in like manner now, whereas we are to stand against an other sort of error, we may truly say that the God which in old time appeared to the Fathers, was none other but Christ. But if any man object that it was the Father, our answer is in readiness, that when we strive to defend the Godhead of the Son, we exclude not the Father. If the readers take heed to this purpose of Ireneus, all that contention shall cease. And also by the sixth Chapter of the third book, this whole strife is ended, where the good man standeth all upon this point, to prove that he which is in Scripture absolutely and indefinitely called God: is verily the one only God, and that Christ is absolutely called God. Let us remember that this was the principal point whereupon stood all his disputation, as by the whole process thereof doeth appear: and specially the .xlvi. Chapter of the second book, that he is not called the Father by dark similitude or parable, which is not very God in deed. Moreover in an other place he sayeth, that as well the Son as the Father were jointly called God by the Prophets and Apostles.1 Afterward he defineth how Christ which is Lord of all, and king, and God, and judge, received power from him which is the God of all,2 that is to say in respect of his subjection, because he was humbled even to the death of the cross.