The Institution of Christian Religion

If I come down to the latter Prophets, there we may freely walk as is our own field. For if it were not hard for us to get the upper hand in David, Job, and Samuel, here it shall be much more easy. For God kept this distribution and order in disposing the covenant of his mercy, that how much the nearer it drew on in process of time to the full performance thereof, with so much greater encreasementes of revelation he did day by day more brightly show it. Therefore at the beginning when the first promise of salvation was made unto Adam, there glistered out but as it were small sparkles of it. After, having more added unto it, a greater largeness of light began to be put forth: which from thence fourth brake out more and more, and displayed her brightness farther abroad, till at length all the clouds were driven away, and Christ the sun of righteousness fully lightened the whole world. We need not therefore to fear that we fail of testimonies of the Prophets, if we seek them to prove our cause, but because I see that there will arise a huge deal of matter, whereupon I should be constrained of necessity to tarry longer than the proportion of my purpose may bear, for it would so grow to a work of a great volume, and also because I have already, by those things that I have said before, made plain the way, even for a reader of mean capacity, so as he may go forward without stumbling: therefore I will at this present abstain from long tediousness: which to do is no less necessary: but giving the readers warning before hand, that they remember to open their own way with that key that we have first given them in their hand. That is, that so oft as the Prophets speak of the blessedness of the faithful people, whereof scarcely the least steppes are seen in this present life, they may resort to this distinction: that the Prophets, the better to e• press the goodness of God, did as in a shadow express it to the people by temporal benefits, as by certain rough drawing of the portraiture thereof: but that the perfect image, that they have painted thereof, was such as might ravish mens minds out of the earth, and out of the elements of this world, and of the age that shall perish, and of necessity raise it up to the considering of the felicity of the life that is to come and spiritual.

If I come downe to the latter Prophetes, there wee maye freely walke as is oure owne felde. For yf it were not harde for vs to gett the vpperhande in Dauid, Iob, and Samuel, here it shall be muche more easye. For God kepte this distribution and ordre in disposinge the couenant of hys mercye, that howe muche the nearer it drewe on in processe of tyme to the full perfourmance thereof, with so muche greater encreasementes of reuelation hee dyd daye by daie more bryghtly shewe it. Therefore at the beginning when the firste promise of saluation was made vnto Adam, there glystered oute but as it were smale sparkles of it. After, hauinge more added vnto it, a greater largenesse of light began to be put forth: whiche from thense fourth brake out more and more, and displayed her bryghtnesse farther abroade, till at length all the cloudes were dryuen awaye, and Christe the sonne of righteousnesse fully lyghtned the whole woorlde. We neede not therfore to feare that wee fayle of testimonies of the Prophetes, if we seeke them to proue oure cause, but bicause I see that there wyll aryse a huge deale of matter, wherevpon I shoulde bee constrained of necessytie to tarrye longer than the proportio of my purpose maye beare, for it woulde so growe to a worke of a great volume, and also bicause I haue already, by those thinges that I haue saide before, made plaine the waye, euen for a reader of meane capacitie, so as he maye goe forwarde wythoute stumbling: therefore I wyll at this present absteine from long tediousnesse: whyche to do ys no lesse necessarie: but geuing the readers warning before hande, that they remembre to open theyr owne waye with that key that we haue fyrste geuen them in theyr hande. That is, that so ofte as the Prophetes speake of the blessednesse of the faithfull people, whereof scarscely the leaste steppes are seen in this present life, thei maye resorte to this distinction: that the Prophetes, the better to e presse the goodnesse of God, did as in a shadow expresse it to the people by temporall benefites, as by certaine rough drawing of ye portraiture therof: but that ye perfect image, yt thei haue painted therof, was suche as might rauish mens myndes out of the earh, and out of the elements of this worlde, and of the age that shal perishe, and of necessitie rayse it vp to the considering of the felicitie of the lyfe that ys to come and spirituall.