A17662:685
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.
Therefore least any man should trouble himself to know where the Mediator is to be sought, or which way to come unto him, in naming Man, he putteth us in mind that he is near unto us, yea so near that he toucheth us, forasmuch as he is our own flesh. Truly he meaneth there even the same thing that in an other place is set out with moe words: that we have not a bishop that can not have compassion of our infirmities,1 forasmuch as he was in all things tempted as we are, only sin excepted.
Therefore least any man should trouble himself to know where the Mediatour is to be sought, or whiche waye to come vnto him, in namyng Man, he putteth vs in minde that he is nere vnto vs, yea so nere that he toucheth vs, for asmuch as he is our owne fleshe. Truely he meaneth there euen the same thyng that in an other place is set out with moe wordes: that we haue not a bishop that can not haue compassion of our infirmities,1 for asmuche as he was in all thinges tempted as we are, only sinne excepted.
- 1Hebr. iiii.xv.
That shall also appear more plainly, if we consider how it was no mean thing that the Mediator had to do: that is, so to restore us into the favour of God, as to make us of the children of men, the children of God: of the heirs of hell, the heirs of the kingdom of heaven. Who could do that, unless the son of God were made also the son of man, and so take ours upon him to convey his unto us, and to make that ours by grace, which was his by nature? Therefore by this earnest we trust, that we are the children of God, because the natural son of God hath shapen for himself a body of our body, flesh of our flesh, bones of our bones, that he might be all one with us. He disdained not to take that upon him which was proper unto us, to make again that to belong to us which he had proper to himself, and that so in common together with us, he might be both the son of God and the son of man. Hereupon cometh that holy brotherhood which he commendeth with his own mouth when he saith: