The Institution of Christian Religion

But above all other, notable is that saying of Job: I know that §19my redeemer liveth, & in the last day I shall rise again out of the earth, and in my flesh I shall see God my saviour: This hope is laid up in my bosom. Some that have a mind to make a show of their sharp wit, do cavil that this is not to be understanded of the last resurrection, but of the first day that Job looked to have God more gentle to him,¹ which although we grant them in part, yet shall we enforce them to confess whether they will or no, that Job could not have come to that largeness of hope, if he had rested his thought upon the earth. Therefore we must needs confess, that he lifted up his eyes to the immortality to come, which saw, that his redeemer would be present with him even lying in his grave. For to them that think only of his present life, death is their uttermost desperation: which very death could not cut of Jobs hope.² Yea though he kill me (said he) nevertheless I will still hope in him. And let no trifler here carp against me and say▪ that these were the sayings but of a few, whereby is not proved that such doctrine was among the Jews. For I will by and by answer him, that these few did not in these sayings utter any secret wisdom, whereunto only certain excellent wits were severally and privately suffered to attain▪ but that as they were by the ⟨image 154⟩holy Ghost appointed teachers of the people, so they openly published those mysteries of God that were to be universally learned, and ought to be the principles of the common religion among the people. Therefore when we hear the public oracles of the holy Ghost, wherein he spake of the spiritual life so clearly and plainly in the Church of the Jews, it were a point of untolerable stubbornness, to send them away only to the fleshly covenant, wherein is mention made of nothing, but earth and earthly wealthiness.

But aboue all other, notable is that sayeng of Iob: I knowe that §19my redemer liueth, & in the last daie I shal rise againe out of the earth, and in my fleshe I shall see God my sauioure: This hope is layed vp in my bosome. Some that haue a mynde to make a shewe of their sharpe witte, do cauill that this is not to be vnderstanded of the last resurrection, but of the firste daye that Iob loked to haue God more gentle to him,