The Institution of Christian Religion

This is the reason why it is read that the holy men in time of the old testament, did esteem the mortal life and the blessings thereof more than is now meet to do. For although they knew well that they should not rest in it, as in the end of their race, yet when they called to mind, what marks of his grace the lord had pointed therein, to exercise them according to the small rate of their tenderness, they felt a greater sweetness of it, than if they had considered it by it self. But as the Lord in testifying his good will toward the faithful, by present good things, did as in shadow express the spiritual felicity, by such figures and signs: so on the other side he did in corporal pains show examples of his judgement against the reprobate. Therefore, as the benefits of God were to be seen in earthly things, so were also his punishments. While the unskilful do not weigh this comparison or agreement, as I may call it, between the punishments and the rewards, they marvel at so much alteration in God, that in old time was so suddenly ready to take vengeance on every offence of man with starve and horrible punishments, and now as if he had laid away the affection of his old angriness, he punisheth both much more gently and seldomer, yea and for the same cause they do almost imagine several gods of the old and new testament: which the Manichees did in deed. Butte we shall easily be delivered from such doubts, if we lay our minds to consider this orderly disposition of God that I have spoken of, whose will was for the time to signify and set forth in figure both the grace of the eternal felicity to come, by temporal benefits, and the grievousness of the spiritual death, by corporal pains. Whereby he delivered his Testament to the Israelites, as yet after a certain manner folded up.

This is the reason why it is reade that the holy men in time of the olde testament, did esteme the mortal life and the blessinges therof more than is nowe meete to do. For although thei knewe wel that thei shold not rest in it, as in the ende of their race, yet when thei called to mynde, what markes of his grace the lord had pointed therin, to exercise them according to ye small rate of their tendernesse, thei felte a greater swetnesse of it, than if they had considered it by it selfe. But as the Lorde in testifyinge his good will toward the faithful, by present good thinges, did as in shadowe expresse the spirituall felicitie, by suche figures and signes: so on the other side he did in corporal paines shewe exaumples of hys iudgement againste the reprobate. Therefore, as the benefytes of God wer to be seen in earthly thinges, so wer also his punishmētes. Whyle the vnskilfull do not weye thys comparison or agreement, as I may call it, betweene the punishmentes and the rewardes, thei maruel at so muche alteration in God, that in olde time was so sodeinely ready to take vengeance on euery offence of man with sterue and horrible punishmentes, and nowe as if he had layed awaye the affection of his old angrienesse, he punisheth bothe muche more gentlie and seldomer, yea and for the same cause they doe almoste imagine severall gods of the olde and newe testament: whiche the Manichees did in deede. Butte we shal easily be delivered from suche doubtes, if we laye our mindes to consider this ordrely disposition of God that I haue spoken of, whose will was for the tyme to signifie and set forthe in figure both the grace of the eternal felicitie to come, by temporall benefites, and the greuousnesse of the spirituall deathe, by corporall peines. Whereby hee deliuered hys Testament to the Israelites, as yet after a certaine manner folded vp.