The Institution of Christian Religion

I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no strange Gods before my face.

I am the Lord thy God, whiche haue brought thee out of the lande of Aegypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt haue no straunge Gods before my face.

Whether you make the first sentence a part of the first commandment, or read it severally, it is indifferent to me, so that you do not deny me that it standeth in stead of a preface to the whole law. First in making of laws is heed to be taken, that they be not shortly after abrogate by contempt. Therefore God first of all provideth, that the majesty of the law that he shall make, may never at any time come in contempt. For stablishing whereof he useth three manners of arguments. First he challengeth to him self power and right of dominion, whereby he may constrain his chosen people, that they must of necessity obey him: then he setteth forth a promise of grace with sweetness thereof to allure them to study of holiness. Thirdly he reciteth the benefit that he did for them, to reprove the Jews of unthankfulness, if they do not with obedience answer his kindness. Under the name of Jehovah, the Lord, is meant his authority & lawful dominion. And if all things be of him and do abide in him, it is right that all things be referred to him,¹ as Paul sayeth. Therefore we are with this word alone sufficiently brought under the yoke of Gods majesty, because it were mom struous for us to seek to withdraw our selves from under his government, out of whom we can not be.

Whether you make the first sentence a part of the first cōmaundement, or reade it seuerally, it is indifferēt to me, so that you do not denie me that it standeth in stede of a preface to the whole law. First in making of lawes is heede to be takē, yt they be not shortly after abrogate by cōtempt. Therfore God first of all prouideth, that the maiestie of the lawe that he shall make, maye neuer at any time come in contempt. For stablishing wherof he vseth three maners of argumentes. First he chalengeth to him self power and right of dominion, whereby he may constraine his chosen people, that they must of necessitie obey him: then he setteth forth a promise of grace with swetenesse therof to allure thē to studie of holinesse. Thirdly he reciteth the benefite that he did for them, to reproue the Iewes of vnthankefulnesse, if they do not with obedience answer his kindnesse. Under the name of Iehouah, the Lord, is meant his authoritie & lawful dominiō. And if al thinges be of him and do abide in him, it is right that all thinges be referred to him,