The Institution of Christian Religion

For Christ speaketh not of his own age only, but comprehendeth all ages, when he saith that this is the eternal life, to know the father the one true God, and him whom he hath sent Jesus Christ. And so much the fouler is their sluggishness, which take upon them to set open heaven to all profane & unbelieving men, without his grace whom, the Scripture each where teacheth to be the only gate whereby we enter into salvation. But if any will restrain that saying of Christ only to the publishing of the Gospel, we have in readiness wherewith to confute him. For this hath ben a common sentence in all ages and among all nations, that without reconciliation they that are estranged from God & pronounced, accursed & the children of wrath, can not please God. And here may be also alleged that which Christ answered to the woman of Samaria:¹ Ye worship what ye know not, but we worship that which we know: because the salvation is from the Jews. In which words he both condemneth of falsehood all the religions of the Gentiles, and also assigneth a reason why, for that the Redeemer was promised under the law to the only chosen people. Whereupon it followeth, that no worship ever pleased God,² but that which had respect unto Christ. For which cause also Paul affirmeth that all the nations of the Gentiles were without God, ⟨image 116⟩and void of the hope of life. Now whereas John teacheth, that life was from the beginning in Christ, and that all the world fell from it, we must needs return to the same fountain Christ. And therefore Christ, in so much as he is the reconciler, affirmeth him self to be the life. And truly the inheritance of heaven belongeth to none, but to the children of God. But it is not mete that they be accounted in the place and degree of children, that are not grafted into the body of the only begotten son. And John plainly testifieth, that they which believe in his name, are made the children of God. But because it is not directly my purpose yet to discourse of faith in Christ, therefore it shall for this time be sufficient to have touched it by the way.

For Christe speaketh not of his owne age only, but comprehendeth all ages, when he sayth that this is the eternal life, to know the father the one true God, and him whom he hath sent Iesus Christ. And so much the fowler is their sluggishnesse, which take vpon them to set open heauē to all prophane & vnbeleuing men, without his grace whō, the Scripture eche where teacheth to be the only gate whereby we entre into saluation. But yf any wil restraine that sayeng of Christ only to the publishing of the Gospel, we haue in redinesse wherwith to confute him. For this hath ben a cōmon sentence in all ages and among al nations, that without reconciliatiō they that are enstranged from God & prononced, accursed & the children of wrath, can not please God. And here maye be also alleged yt which Christ answered to the woman of Samaria: