A17662:542
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 Second Commandment.
The Second Commaundement.
Thou shalt not make to thee any graven image, nor any similitude of those things that are in heaven above, or in earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth. Thou shalt not worship them, nor serve them.
Thou shalt not make to thee any grauen image, nor any similitude of those thinges that are in heauē aboue, or in earth beneth, or in the waters vnder the earth. Thou shalt not worship them, nor serue them.
As in the first commandment he pronounced that he is the one God beside whom there are no others gods to be devised or had▪ so now he more openly declareth what manner of God he is, & with what kind of worship he is to be honoured: that we may not presume to forge any carnal thing for him. The end therefore of this commandment is, that he will not have the lawful worship of him, to be profaned with superstitious usages. Wherefore in sum, he calleth and draweth us away from the carnal observations, which our foolish mind is wont to invent, when it conceiveth God according to her own grossness. And therefore he frameth us to the lawful worship of him, that is the spiritual worship, and which is appointed by him. He speaketh of the grossest fault that is in this offence, namely outward idolatry. And there be two parts of this commandment, The first restraineth our liberty, that we do not presume to make subject to our senses or by any form to represent God, which is incomprehensible. The second part forbiddeth us to honour any images for religious sake. Moreover he shortly reciteth all the forms wherewith he was wont to be expressed in shape by the profane and superstitious nations. By those things that are in heaven, he meaneth the Sun, the Moon, and other Stars, and peradventure also birds, as expressing his meaning