A17662:454
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.
They be very laborious in heaping together of testimonies of §6Scripture: and that they do of purpose, that when they can not oppress us with weight, they may yet with number. But as in battles, when it cometh to hand strokes, the weaker multitude how much pomp and show soever it hath, is with a few strips discomfited ⟨image 109⟩and put to flight: so shall it be very easy for us to overthrow them with all their route. For, because the places that they abuse against us, when they are ones divided into their orders, do meet upon a few special points, we shall with one answer satisfy many of them: therefore it shall not be needful to tarry upon dissolving every one of them particularly. Their chief force they set in the commandments, which they think to be so tempered to our strengths, that what soever is proved to be required by the one, it necessarily followeth that it may be performed by the other. And therefore they run through every of the commandments, and by them do measure the proportion of our strength. For (say they) either God mocketh us when he chargeth us with holiness, godliness, obedience, chastity, love, and meekness: and when he forbiddeth us uncleanness, idolatry, unchasteness, wrath, robbery, pride, and such like: or he requireth only those things that are in our power. Now, we may divide into three sorts in manner all the commandments that they heap together. Some require our first conversion to God, some speak simply of the keeping of the law: some command us to continue in the grace of God that we have received. First let us speak of them all in generality, and then descend to the special sorts. To extend the power of man to the commandments of the law, hath in deed long ago begun to be commune, and hath some show: butte it proceeded from most rude ignorance of the law. For they that think it a heinous offence, if it be said that the keeping of the law is impossible, do rest forsooth upon this most strong argument, that ells the law was given in vain. For they speak in such sort as if Paul had no where spoken of the law. For, I beseech them, what mean these sayings, that the law was set because of transgressions: That by the law is the knowledge of sin:1 That the law maketh sin:
Thei be verye laborious in heapinge together of testimonies of