The Institution of Christian Religion

But sith the Scripture doth sometimes show, that God himself directed all the earthly benefits that he did for them to this end, that so he might lead them by the hand to the hope of heavenly benefits. It was to much unskilfulness, I will not sate blockishness, not to consider this order of disposition. The issue or point of our controversy with this sort of men is this, that they teach that the possession of the land of Canaan was to the Israelites their chief and last blessedness, and that to us after the revealing of Christ, it doth but figuratively signify the heavenly inheritance. On the other side we affirm, that they did in the earthly possession which they enjoyed, as in a looking glass behold the inheritance to come, which they believed to be prepared for them in heaven.

But fith the Scripture dothe sometimes shew, that God himselfe directed all the earthly benefites that hee did for them to this ende, that so he might leade them by the hande to the hope of heauenly benefites. It was to muche vnskilfulnesse, I wyll not sate blockishnesse, not to consider this ordre of disposition. The issue or pointe of oure controuersie with this sorte of men is thys, that they teache that the possession of the land of Chanaan was to the Israelites their chefe and last blessednesse, and that to vs after the reuelinge of Christ, it doth but figuratiuely signifie the heauenly inheritaunce. On the other syde we affirme, that thei dyd in the earthly possession whiche they enioyed, as in a lokinge glasse beholde the inheritance to come, whiche they beleued to be prepared for them in heauen.

That shall better appear by the similitude that Paul used to the §2Galatians.¹ He compareth the nation of the Jews to an higher, within age, which being not yet able to govern him self, followeth the guiding of the tutor or schoolmaster, to whose custody he is committed. And whereas he applieth that similitude to the ceremonies, that nothing hindereth but that it may also very fitly serve to this purpose. The same inheritance was appointed for them, that was appointed for us: but such as yet for want of age, they were not of capacity to enter upon and use. The same Church was among them, but whereof the age was yet but childish. Therefore the Lord kept them under this schooling, that he gave them not the spiritual promises so naked and openly, but as it were shadowed with earthly promises. Therefore, where he called Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and their posterity unto hope of immortality, he promised them the land of Canaan to be their inheritance: not to determine their hopes upon it, but that in beholding of it, they should exercise and confirm them selves in the hope of that true inheritance that did not yet appear. And that they might not be deceived, there was given them a higher promise to testify, that that land was not the hiest benefit of God. So Abraham was not suffered to fye slothful in the promise received of the land, but his mind was with a greater promise raised up unto yt Lord. For Abraham heard this said unto him: