The Institution of Christian Religion

Hereby appeareth in what sense the Apostle said: that in the schooling of the law,¹ the Jews were brought unto Christ, before that he was showed in the flesh. And he confesseth, that they were the children and heirs of God, but yet such, as for their young age were to be kept under the custody of a schoolmaster. For it behoved, that ere the sun of righteousness was yet risen, their should neither be so great brightness of revelation, nor so great deep sight of understanding. Therefore God so gave them in measure the light of his word, that they saw it as yet far of and darkly. Therefore Paul expresseth this slenderness of understanding by the term of young age, which the Lords will was to have to be exercised with yt elements of this world & with out ward observations, as rules of instruction for children until Christ should shine a broad, by whom it behoved that the knowledge of the faithful people should grow to full age. This distinction Christ him self meant of,² when he said, that the law and the Prophets were until John, and that from thenceforth the kingdom of God is preached. What did the law and the Prophets open to men of their time even this, they gave a taste of yt wisdom which in time to come should be plainly disclosed: and they showed it before as it were twinclingely shining a far of. But when it came to pass that Christ might be pointed to with the finger, then was the kingdom of God set open. For in him are laid abroad the treasures of all wisdom and understanding, whereby we attain,³ even in a manner, into the secret closets of heaven.

Hereby appeareth in what sense the Apostle saide: that in the scholynge of the lawe,¹ the Iewes were brought vnto Christ, before that he was shewed in the flesh. And he confesseth, that thei were the children and heires of God, but yet suche, as for their yonge age were to be kept vnder the custodie of a schoolemaster. For it behoued, that ere the sonne of righteousnesse was yet rysen, their sholde neither be so great brightnesse of reuelation, nor so great deepe sight of vnderstandynge. Therefore God so gaue them in measure the light of hys worde, that thei saw it as yet farre of and darkely. Therfore Paule expresseth this sclendernesse of vnderstanding by ye terme of yonge age, whiche the Lords wil was to haue to be exercised with yt elements of this worlde & with out warde observations, as rules of instruction for children vntyll Christe shoulde shyne a broade, by whom it behoued that the knowledge of the faithfull people shoulde growe to full age. This distinction Christe him selfe meant of,