A17662:634
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.
To overthrow this sentence of Paul, they object that which §6Christ saith:1 Your fathers did eat Manna in the wilderness, and ⟨image 149⟩are dead: he that eateth my flesh, shall not dye for ever. Which two places are very easily made to agree together. The Lord, because he then talked to hearers that sought only to be filled with food of their belly, but cared not for the meat of the soul, tempered his talk somewhat to their capacity, but specially he frameth the comparison of Manna and of his body according to their sense. They required that he, to get himself some credit, would approve his power with doing some such miracle, as Moses did in the wilderness, when he obtained Manna from Heaven. But in Manna they conceived nothing but the remedy of carnal hunger, wherewith the people was then vexed: but they pierced not to that higher mystery which Paul hath respect unto: Christ therefore, to show how much greater a benefit they ought to look for at his hand, than that which they reported that Moses did bestow upon their fathers, frameth this comparison: If it were a great miracle in your opinion, and worthy to be remembered, that the Lord by Moses ministered fond from Heaven to his people, to sustain them for a small time, that they should not perish for hunger in the wilderness: gather hereby how much more excellent is the meat that giveth immortality. We see why the Lord passed over that thing which was principal in Manna, and spake only of the basest profit of it: even because the Jews as it were of purpose to reproach him, did caste Moses in his teeth, which succoured the necessity of the people with remedy of Manna: he answered that he is the minister of a much higher grace, in comparison whereof, the carnal feeding of the people, which alone they so much esteemed, ought of right to be nothing regarded. But Paul, because he knew that the Lord when he rained Manna from heaven, did not only pour it down for the feeding of their belly, but also did distribute it for a spiritual mystery, to be a figure of the spiritual quickening that is had in Christ, did not neglect that part that was most worthy of consideration.
To ouerthrowe this sentence of Paule, they obiecte that whiche §6