The Institution of Christian Religion

And it maketh not against us, that there can scarcely any one be found in the Christian Church, that in excellency of faith may be compared with Abraham, or that the Prophets excelled in such force of spirit, that even at this day they lighten the whole world withal. For our question is not here, what grace the Lord hath bestowed upon a few, but what ordinary disposition he used in teaching his people: such as is declared in the Prophets them selves, which were endued with peculiar knowledge above the rest. For even their preaching is dark and enclosed in figures, as of things a far of. Moreover how marvellous knowledge soever appeared in them above other, yet forasmuch as they were driven of necessity to submit them to the common childish ••struction of the people, they them selves also were reckoned in the nun bre ⟨p. 78⟩of children. Finally, there never changed any such clear sight to any at that time, but that it deed in some part savour of the darkness of the time.¹ Whereupon Christ said, Many kings and Prophets have desired to see the things that ye see, and have not seen them: and to hear the things that ye hear, and have not heard them. Therefore blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears because they hear. And truly it was meet that the presence of Christ should have this excellency of prerogative, that from it should arise the clear revealing of the heavenly mysteries. And for this purpose also maketh that, which even we now alleged out of the first epistle of Peter:² that it was opened to them, that their travail was profitable, principally for our age.

And it maketh not against vs, that ther can scarsely any one be found in the Christian Churche, that in excellencye of faith maye be compared with Abraham, or that the Prophetes excelled in suche force of spirite, that euen at this daye thei lighten the whole worlde withall. For oure question is not here, what grace the Lord hathe bestowed vpon a few, but what ordinarie disposition he vsed in teachinge his people: suche as is declared in the Prophetes them selues, which were endued with peculiar knoweledge aboue the rest. For euen their preaching is dark and enclosed in figures, as of thinges a farre of. Moreouer howe meruellous knoweledge soeuer appeared in them aboue other, yet forasmuche as they wer dryuen of necessitie to submit them to the common childish struction of the people, thei them selues also were reckened in the nū bre