A17662:478
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.
The sixth Chapter. ¶ That man being lost, must seek for redemption in Christ.
The sixte Chapter. ¶ That manne beyng loste, must seke for redemption in Christ.
Sith all mankind hath perished in the person of Adam, that excellence and nobility of beginning which we have spoken of would so little profit us, that it would rather turn to our greater shame, till God appear the redeemer in the person of his only begotten Son, which acknowledgeth ⟨p. 36⟩not men defiled and corrupted with sin to be his work. Therefore sith we are fallen from life into death, all that knowledge of God the creator whereof we have entreated, were unprofitable, unless there followed also faith setting forth God a father unto us in Christ. Truly this was the natural order that the frame of the world should be a School unto us to learn godliness, from whence might be made a passage for us to eternal life & perfect felicity: but sins our falling away, whether so ever we turn our eyes, upward & downward, the curse of God still presenteth it self unto our sight, which while it possesseth & enwrappeth innocent creatures by our fault, must needs overwhelm our own souls with desperation. For although Gods will is that his fatherly favour toward us do still many ways appear: yet by beholding of the world we cannot gather that he is our Father when our conscience inwardly pricketh us, and showeth that there is in sin just cause of forsaking, why God should not account or reckon us for his children. Beside that there is in us both slothfulness and unthankfulness: because both our minds, as they be blinded, do not see the truth, and also as all our senses be perverse, we maliciously defraud God of his glory. Therefore we must come to that saying of Paul: