A17662:675
The Institution of Christian Religion
The institution of Christian religion, written in Latin by master John Calvin, and translated into English according to the authors last edition. Seen and allowed according to the order appointed in the Queens majesties injunctionsThe institution of Christian religion, vvrytten in Latine by maister Ihon Caluin, and translated into Englysh according to the authors last edition. Seen and allowed according to the order appointed in the Quenes maiesties iniunctions
London: printed by Reinolde Wolfe & Richard Harison, 1561London: printed by Reinolde VVolfe & Richarde Harison, 1561
Book 2 › Chapter 11: The xi Chapter. Of the difference of the one Testament from the other.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
For (to speak nothing of the rest) what greater blindness can be imagined, than to hope for the purging of sin by the killing of a beast, than to seek for the cleansing of the soul in outward sprinkling of water? than to seek to appease God with cold ceremonies, as though he were much delighted therewith? For to all these absurdities do they fall, that stick fast in the observations of the law without respect of Christ.
For (to speake nothinge of the rest) what greater blindenesse can be imagined, than to hope for the purginge of sinne by the killinge of a beast, than to secke for the cleansing of the soule in outward sprinkling of water? than to seeke to appease God with colde ceremonies, as thoughe he were muche delited therewith? For to all these absurdities do thei fall, that sticke fast in the obseruations of the lawe without respect of Christe.
The fifth difference that we may add, lieth in this: that until the coming of Christ the Lord had chosen out one nation, within why the he would keep several the covenant of his grace. When the hiest did distribute the nations, when he divided the sons of Adam (saith Moses) his people fell to his possession:1 Jacob the cord of his inheritance. In an other place he thus speaketh to the people: Behold the heaven and earth and all that is in it, are the Lord thy Gods. He cleaned only to thy fathers, he loved them, to choose their seed after them even your selves out of all nations. Therefore he vo•tchesaved to grant the knowledge of his name to that people only, as if they only of all men belonged unto him: he laid his covenant as it were in their bosom: to them he openly showed the presence of his Godhead: them he honoured with all prerogatives. Butte (to omit the rest of his benefits, and speak that which only here is to our purpose) he bound them to him by the communicating of his word, that he might be called and counted their God. In the mean season he suffered other nations to walk in vanity, as though they had not any enter course or any thing to do with him: