The Institution of Christian Religion

Augustine saith rightly, that although the Heretics do brag of the name of Christ, yet they have not all one foundation with the godly,¹ but that it remaineth only proper to the Church. For if these things be diligently considered that belong to Christ. Christ shall be found among them only in name, & not in very deed. So at this day the Papists, although the name of the Son of God, redeemer of the world, sound in their mouth: yet because being contented with vain pretence of the name, they spoil him of his power and dignity: this saying of Paul may be well spoken of them,² that they have not the head. Therefore, that faith may find sound matter of salvation in Christ, and so rest in him, this principle is to be stablished, that the office which is committed to him by his Father, consisteth of three parts. For he is given both a Prophet, a King, and a Priest. Albeit, it were but small profit to know those names, without knowledge of the end and use of them. For they are also named among the Papists, but coldly and to no great profit, where it is not known what each of these titles containeth in it. We have said before, how, though God sending Prophets by continual course one after an other did never leave his people destitute of profitable doctrine, and such as was sufficient to salvation: that yet the minds of the godly had alway this persuasion, that full light of understanding was to be hoped for only at the coming of Messiah: yea and the opinion thereof was come, even to the Samaritans, who yet never knew the true religion, as appeareth by the saying of the woman:³ When Messiah cometh, he shall teach us all things. And the Jews had not rashly gathered this upon presumptions in their minds: But as they were taught by assured oracles, so they believed. Notable among the other is that saying of Isaiah:⁴ Behold, I have made him a witness to peoples, I have given him to be a guide and Schoolmaster to peoples: even as in an other place he had called him the Angel or interpreter of the great counsel. After this manner the Apostle commending the perfection of the doctrine of the Gospel,⁵