The Institution of Christian Religion

The penal ordinance that followeth ought not a little to avail to shake of our slothfulness. For he threateneth: That he is the Lord our God, a jealous God, that visiteth the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation, in them that hate his name, and showeth mercy unto thousands to them that love him and keep his commandments. This is as much in effect, as if he should have said, that it is he only upon whom we ought to […]. And to bring us thereunto, he speaketh of his power, that doth not without punishment suffer it self to be contemned or diminished. Here is in deed let the name Ell, which signifieth God. Eut because it is derived of strength, do express the sense the better, I did not stick so to translate it, or to put it into the text. Then he calleth himself •elous that can abide no fellow. Thirdly he affirmeth that he will be a revenger of his majesty and glory if any do transfer it to creatures or to graven images, and that not with a short or slender revenge, but such as shall extend to the children and children's children, and children's children's children, that is such as shall be •o•owers of their fathers ungodliness: as also he showeth a perpetual mercy and bountifulness unto long continuance of posterity, to those that love him and keep his law. It is a common manner with God to take upon him the person of a husband toward us. For the conjunction wherewith he bindeth himself unto us, when he receiveth us into the bosom of his church, is like unto a certain holy wedlock, that must stand by mutual faithfulness. As he doth all the duties of a faithful and true husband, so again he requireth of us such love and chastity as ought to be in wedlock, that we yield not our souls to Satan, to lust, and to filthy desires of the flesh, to be defiled by them. Whereupon he that rebuketh the Apostasy of the Jews, con plaineth that they did throw away chastity, & were defiled with adulteries. Therefore, as the husband, the more holy & chaste that he himself is, the more is he kindled to anger if he see his wives mind incline to a strange lover:¹

The penall ordinance that foloweth ought not a litle to auayle to shake of our slouthfulnesse. For he threteneth: That he is the Lord our God, a yelous God, that visiteth the iniquitie of the fathers vpon the children vnto the thirde and fourth generation, in them that hate his name, and sheweth mercie vnto thousandes to them that loue him and kepe his commaundementes. This is as much in effect, as yf he should haue sayde, that it is he only vpon whome we ought to . And to brynge vs thereunto, he speaketh of his power, that doth not without punishment suffer it selfe to be contemned or diminished. Here is in deede let the name El, whyche signifieth God. Eut bicause it is deriued of strength, do expresse the sense the better, I did not sticke so to translate it, or to put it into the texte. Then he calleth himselfe elous that can abide no fellow. Thirdly he affirmeth that he will be a reuenger of his maiestie and glorie yf any doe transferre it to creatures or to grauen images, and that not with a short or sclender reuenge, but suche as shall extend to the chyldren and chylderns children, and childrens childrens children, that is suche as shalbe oowers of their fathers vngodlinesse: as also he sheweth a perpetuall mercie and bountifulnesse vnto longe continuance of posteritie, to those that loue him and kepe his lawe. It is a common manner with God to take vpon him the persone of a husband towarde vs. For the conuinction wherewith he bindeth himself vnto vs, when he receiueth vs into the bosome of his church, is like vnto a certaine holy wedlock, that muste stande by mutuall faythfulnesse. As he dothe all the duties of a faythfull and true husbande, so agayne he requireth of vs suche loue and chastitie as ought to be in wedlocke, that we yelde not our soules to Satan, to lust, and to filthy desires of the flesh, to be defiled by them. Wherupon he that rebuketh the Apostasie of the Iewes, cō plaineth that they did throwe away chastitie, & were defiled with adulteries. Therfore, as the husband, the more holy & chast that he himselfe is, the more is he kindled to anger yf he see his wiues minde encline to a strang louer: