A17662:68
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
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.
As for his wonderful wisdom, there are innumerable proves both §2in heaven and in earth that witness it: I mean not only that secreter sort of things, for the nearer marking whereof Astrology, Physic, and all natural Philosophy serveth, but even those things that thrust ⟨image 15⟩them selves in sight of every one, even of the rudest unlearned man, so that men can not open their eyes but they must needs be witnesses of them. But truly they that have digested, yea or but tasted the liberal arts, being holpen by the aid thereof, do proceed much further to look into the secretes of Gods wisdom. Yet is there no man so hindered by lack of knowledge of those arts, but that he throughly seeth abundantly enough of conning workmanship in gods works, to bring him in admiration of the workman thereof. As for example: to the searching out of the movings of the stars, appointing of their places, measuring of their distances, and noting of their properties, there needeth art and an exacter diligence: by which being throughly perceived, as the providence of god is the more manifestly disclosed, so it is convenient, that the mind rise somewhat the higher thereby to behold his glory. But forasmuch as the unlearned people yea and the rudest sort of them, such as are furnished with the only help of their eyes, can not be ignorant of the excellency of gods conning workmanship, which in this innumerable and yet so severally well ordered and disposed variety doth of it self show forth it self: it is evident that there is no man to whom God doth not largely open his wisdom. Likewise it requireth a singular sharpness of wit, to weigh with such cunning as Galen doth,1 the knitting together, the proportional agreement, the beauty, & use in the frame of mans body: but by all mens confession, the body of man doth utter in very show of it self so cunning a compacting together, that for it the maker of it may worthily be judged wonderful.
As for his wonderful wisedom, there are innumerable proues bothe §2in heauen and in earth that witnesse it: I meane not only that secreter sort of thinges, for the nerer marking whereof Astrologie, Physike, and all naturall Philosophie serueth, but euen those thinges that thruste ⟨image 15⟩