A17662:557
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.
First is to be learned what is an oath. It is a taking of God to §23witness, to confirm the truth of that which we speak. For those cursed speeches that contain manifest reproaches against God, are unworthy to be reckoned among oaths. That such taking to witness, when it is rightly done, is a kind of worshipping of God, is showed in diverse places of the Scripture.1 As when Isaiah prophecieth of the calling of the Assyrians and Egyptians into fellowship of the covenant with Israel, They shall speak (saith he) in the tong of Canaan, & shall swear in the name of the Lord. That is to say, in swearing by the name of the Lord,2 they shall yield a confession of his religion. Again when he speaketh of the enlargement of his kingdom, he saith: Whosoever shall bless himself, shall bless in the God of the faithful: and he that shall swear in the land, shall swear in the true God. Jeremiah saith,3 If they shall teach the people to swear in my name as they have taught them to swear by Baal, they shall be builded up in the midst of my house. ⟨image 133⟩And for good cause it is said, that when we call upon the name of the Lord to witness, we do witness our religion toward him. For so we confess that he is the eternal and unchangeable truth, whom we call upon, not only as a most substantial witness of truth above all other but also as the only defence thereof, which is able to bring forth hidden things into light, & then as the knower of hearts. For where testimonies of men do •ayle, there we f•ee to God for witness, specially where any thing is to be proved that lieth secrete in conscience. For which cause the Lord is bitterly angry with them that swear by strange gods, and he judgeth that manner of swearing to be a manifest of manifest falling from his allegiance:4 Thy sons have forsaken me, and do swear by them that are no gods. And he declareth the heinousness of this offence by threatening of punishment: