The Institution of Christian Religion

I have cried unto thee, O Lord, I have said, Thou art my hope, my portion in the land of the living. Truly they that dare so speak, do without doubt profess that with their hope they climb above the world, and all the good things here present. But the Prophets do oft describe this blessedness of the world to come, under yt figure that they had received of the Lord. And so are these sayings to be understanded.¹ That the Godly shall possess the land by inheritance, and the wicked shall be destroyed out of it. That Jerusalem shall abound with all kind of richesse, and Zion overflow with plenty of all things. All which we see, can not properly be spoken of the land of our wayfaring, or the earthly Jerusalem, but of the true country of the faithful,² and that heavenly city wherein the Lord hath commanded blessing and life for ever.

I haue cryed vnto thee, O Lorde, I have saide, Thou art my hope, my portion in the lande of the liuing. Truly thei that dare so speake, do withoute doubt professe that with their hope thei climbe aboue the worlde, and all the good thinges here presente. But the Prophetes do ofte describe this blessednesse of the worlde to come, vnder yt figure that thei had receiued of the Lorde. And so are these saienges to be vnderstanded.¹ That the Godly shal possesse the land by inheritance, and the wycked shal be destroied out of it. That Hierusalem shal aboud with all kinde of richesse, and Syon ouerflowe with plentie of al thinges. All whiche we see, can not proprely be spoken of the lande of oure wayfaringe, or the earthly Ierusalem, but of the true contrey of the faithfull,² and that heauenly citie wherein the Lorde hathe commaunded blessinge and life for euer.

1. 1Job. xviii.xv.•.