The Institution of Christian Religion

But if the readers had rather to have testimonies alleged unto them out of the law and the Prophets, whereby they may perceive that the spiritual covenant was common also to the fathers, as we hear by Christ and the Apostles: I will also follow that desire, and so much the more willingly, because by that mean the adversaries shall be more surely convinced, so that they shall have afterward no way to dally. And I will begin at that proof, which although I know that the Anabaptists pride will think very fond and in a manner to be laughed at, yet shall much avail with such readers as are willing to learn and have their sound wit. And I take it as a principle confessed, that there is such effectual force of life in the word of God, that whom so ever God vouchsafeth to be partakers thereof,¹ it quickeneth their souls. For this saying Peter hath alway ben of force, that it is the incorruptible seed which abideth ⟨p. 71⟩for ever,² as he also gathereth out of the words of Isaiah. Now sith God in the old time bound the Jews unto him with this holy bound, it is no doubt that he did also sever them into the hope of eternal life. For when I say they embraced the word, which should join them ••yer to God, I take it for the manner of communicating it: not that general manner, which is poured abroad throughout the heaven and earth and all the creatures of the world, which although it do quicken all things, every one after the proportion of their nature, yet it doth not deliver them from necessity of corruption: but I speak of this special manner, whereby the souls of the godly are both lightened unto the knowledge of God, and in a manner coupled to him. By this enlightening of the word, sith Adam Abel, Noah, Abraham, and the other fathers cleaved unto God, I say that it is not doubtful that they had an entry into the immortal kingdom of God. For it was a sound partaking of God, which can not be without the benefit of eternal life.

But yf the readers had rather to haue testimonies alledged vnto them out of the lawe and the Prophetes, whereby they may perceyue that the spirituall couenant was common also to the fathers, as we heare by Christ and the Apostles: I will also follow that desire, and so muche the more willingly, bycause by that meane the aduersaries shalbe more surely conuinced, so that they shall haue afterwarde no waye to dallye. And I will beginne at that profe, whiche although I knowe that the Anabaptistes pride will thinke verye fonde and in a manner to bee laughed at, yet shall muche auayle with suche reders as are willyng to learne and haue their sounde wit. And I take it as a principle confessed, that there is suche effectuall force of lyfe in the worde of God, that whome so euer God vouchesaueth to be partakers therof,