A17662:231
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.
It is commonly red in the Scripture, that the Angels are heavenly §5Spirits, whose ministration and service God useth for putting in execution of those things that he hath decreed. For which reason the name is given them, because God useth them as messengers, to show him self unto men. And upon like reason are derived the other names that they are called by. They are named armies, because they do like a guard environ their prince, and do adorn and set forth the honourable show of his majesty, and like soldiers they are alway attending upon the ensign of their captain, and are ever so prepared and in readiness to do his commandments, that so soon as he doth but beckon to them, they prepare them selves to work, or rather be at their work already. Such an image of the throne of God to set out his royalty, the other prophets do describe,1 but principally Daniel where he saith, that when God sate him down in his throne of judgement, there stood by a thousand thousand, and ten thousand companies of ten thousands of angels. And because God doth by them marvellously show forth & declare the might and strength of his hand, therefore they are named strengths, because he exerciseth and useth his authority in the world by them, therefore they are sometime called Principalities,2 sometime powers, sometime Dominions. Finally because in them as it were sitteth the glory of God. For this cause also they are called Thrones: though of this last name I will not certainly say, because an other exposition doeth either as well or better agree with it. But (speaking nothing of that name) the Holy ghost often useth those other former names to advance the dignity of the ministry of angels. For it were not reason that those instruments should be let pass without honour, by whom God doth specially show the presence of his majesty. Yea for that reason they are many times called Gods, because in their ministry as in a looking glass, they partly represent unto us the godhead.3 Although in deed I mislike not this that the old writers do expound, that Christ was the Angel, where the Scripture saith, that the angel of God appeared to Abraham, Jacob, Moses, & other, yet oftentimes where mention is made of all the Angels in deed this name is given unto them. And ye ought to seem no marvel.