A17662:695
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.
The .xiii. Chapter. ¶ That Christ toke upon him the true substance of the flesh of man.
The .xiii. Chapter. ¶ That Christ toke vpon him the true substance of the flesh of man.
NOW, unless I be deceived, it were superfluous to entreat again of the godhead of Christ, which hath already man other place ben proved with plain & strong testimonies. It remaineth therefore to be seen, how he being clothed with our flesh, hath fulfilled the office of Mediator. The ⟨p. 85⟩truth of his human nature hath in the old time ben impugned both by the Manichees and the Marcionites: of whom, the Marcionites feigned a ghost in stead of the body of Christ, and the Manichees dreamed that he had a heavenly flesh. But both many and strong testimonies of the Scripture do stand against them both. For the blessing is promised neither in a heavenly seed, nor in the counterfeit shape of man,1 but in the seed of Abraham and Jacob. Neither is the eternal throne promised to a man made of air, but to the son of David and to the fruit of his womb. Therefore being delivered in the flesh, he is called the son of David and Abraham: not because he is only borne of the womb of the Virgin, & create in the air, but because (as Paul expoundeth it) he is according to the flesh made of the seed of David: as in an other place the Apostle teacheth, that he descended of the Jews. For which cause the Lord himself not contented with the bare name of man, doth oftentimes call himself the son of man, meaning to express more plainly that he was man truly issued of the seed of mankind. Sith the holy ghost hath so oft by so many means with so great diligence and simplicity declared a thing not obscure of it self, who would have thought any men to be so shameless as to presume yet to spread mists to darken it? And yet we have other testimonies at hand, if we listed to heap up more of them. As is that saying of Paul: