The Institution of Christian Religion

And whereas in an other place the same Apostle teacheth, that the grace which is now disclosed by the Gospel, was given us in Christ before the times of the world: I determine that I ought constantly to abide therein to the end. Against this modesty Osiander carpeth unjustly which hath again in this time unhappily stirred this question before lightly moved by a few. He accuseth them of presumption that say, that the son of God should not have appeared in the flesh, if Adam had not fallen, because this invention is confuted by no testimony of Scripture. As though Paul did not bridle froward curiosity, when after he had spoken of redemption purchased by Christ, he by and by commandeth to avoid foolish questions.¹ The madness of some did burst out so far, that while they disorderly coveted to seem witty, they moved this question, whether the Son of God might have taken upon him the nature of an Ass. This monstrousness which all the godly do worthily abhor as detestable, let Osiander confute with this pretence that it is never expressly confuted in the Scripture. As though when Paul accounteth nothing precious or worthy to be known, but Christ crucified, he doth therefore admit an Ass to be the ⟨image 163⟩author of salvation.² Therefore he that in an other place reporteth, that Christ by the eternal counsel of his father was ordained to be a head to gather allthings together: will never the more acknowledge an other that hath no office of redeeming appointed him.

And whereas in an other place the same Apostle teacheth, that the grace whiche is nowe disclosed by the Gospell, was geuen vs in Christe before the times of the worlde: I determine that I ought constantly to abide therein to the ende. Agaynst this modestie Osiander carpeth vniustly whiche hath agayne in this time vnhappily stirred this question before lightly moued by a few. He accuseth them of presumption yt saye, that the sonne of God shuld not haue appered in the flesh, yf Adā had not fallen, bycause this inuention is confuted by no testimonie of Scripture. As though Paule did not bridle froward curiositie, when after he had spoken of redemption purchaced by Christ, he by and by cōmaundeth to auoyde foolish questions.