The Institution of Christian Religion

But he himself is to be heard before all, when he speaketh thus of his own office:¹ So God loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that who so ever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Again:² The hour is come that the dead shall hear the voice of the son of God, and they that hear it, shall live. I am the resurrection and life: he that believeth in me, although he be dead, shall live. Again. The son of man cometh to save that which was lost. Again. The whole need not a Physician. I should never make an end, if I should rehearse all. The Apostles do all with one consent call us to this fountain: And truly if he had not come to reconcile God,³ the honour of the priesthood should have come to nought. Forasmuch as the priest appointed mean between God and man to make intercession:⁴ and he should not be our righteousness, because he was made a sacrifice for us, that God should not impute sins unto us. Finally, he should be spoiled of all the honourable titles, wherewith the Scripture doth set him out. And also that saying of Paul should prove vain,⁵ that that which was impossible to the law, God hath sent his own son, that in likeness of the flesh of sin he should satisfy for us.⁶ Neither will this stand that he teacheth in an other place, that in this glass appeared the goodness of God & his infinite goodness toward men, when Christ was given to be the Redeemer. Finally, the scripture every where assigneth no other end, why the son of God would take upon him our flesh, & also received this commandment of his father, but to be made a sacrifice to appease his father toward us.⁷ So it is written, and so it behoved that Christ should suffer, & repentance be preached in his name. Therefore my father loveth me, because I give my life for the sheep, this commandment he gave me. As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the desert, so must the son of man be lifted up. In an other place. Father, save me from this hour. But I am therefore come even to this hour. Father glorify thy son. Where he plainly speaketh of the end why he toke flesh, that he might be a sacrifice and satisfaction to do away sin. After the same sort doth Zechariah pronounce,