A17662:650
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.
Let us therefore learn, yet by this confession of David, that the holy.§17 ⟨image 153⟩fathers under the old testament were not ignorant, how seldom or never God doth in this world perform to his servants those things that he promiseth them, and that therefore they did lift up their minds to Gods sanctuary, wherein they had that laid up in store, which appeareth not in the shadow of this present life. That was, the last judgement of God, which when they could not see with eyes, they were content to understand by faith. Trusting upon which affiance, whatsoever happened in the world, yet they doubted not a time would ones come, when the promises of God should be fulfilled. As these sayings do witness,1 I will behold the face of God in righteousness: I will be satisfied with thy countenance. Again. I as a green Olive tree in the house of the Lord. Again. The righteous shall flourish as a Date tree, and shall spread in branches like the Cedar of Libanus, being planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the Palaces of our God: They shall still bear fruit, they shall be fat and green in their old age. When he had said a little before: Now deep are thy thoughts, O Lord, while the wicked do flourish, they bud out like an herb, that they may perish for ever. Where is that fair show and beauty of the faithful, but when the face of this world shall be turned in ward by disclosing of the kingdom of God? When they turned their eyes to that eternity, they despised the hardness enduring but a moment of present miseries,2 and boldly burst forth into these words: Thou shalt not suffer for ever the righteous to dye, but thou shalt throw down the wicked headlong into the pit of destruction. Where as in this world the pit of eternal destruction that may swallow up the wicked? Among whose felicities, this is also reckoned in an other place, that they close up the end of their life in a moment,3 without long languishing. Where is that so great steadfastness of the holly ones, whom David himself each where complaineth, not only to be shaken with trouble, but also to be oppressed, and utterly broken in pieces?