The Institution of Christian Religion

So in an other place, when he saith in the person of God:¹ fit on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy foot stool: he warneth us, that how many and strong enemies so ever do conspire to besiege the Church, yet they have not strength enough to prevail against that unchangeable decree of God, whereby he hath appointed his son an eternal king: whereupon it followeth, that it is impossible that the Devil with all the preparation of the world, may be able at any time to destroy the Church, which is grounded upon the eternal seat of Christ. Now for so much as concerneth the special use of every one, the very same eternal continuance ought to raise us up to hope of immortality. For we see, that whatsoever is earthly and of the world, endureth but for a time,² yea and is very frail. Therefore Christ, to lift up our hope unto heaven, pronounceth that his kingdom is not of this world. Finally, when any of us heareth, that the kingdom of Christ is spiritual, let him be raised up with this saying, and let him pierce to the hope of a better life: and whereas he is now defended by the hand of Christ, let him look for the full fruit of this grace in the world to come.

So in an other place, when he saithe in the person of God:¹ fitte on my righte hande, till I make thine enemies thy foote stoole: he warneth vs, that howe many and strong enemies so euer do conspire to besege the Churche, yet they haue not strengthe enoughe to preuaile agaynste that vnchangeable decree of God, whereby he hathe apointed hys sonne an eternall kinge: wherevpon it foloweth, that it is impossible that the Deuell with all the preparation of the woorlde, maye bee able at any time to destroy the Churche, whiche is grounded vpon the eternall seate of Christe. Now for so muche as concerneth the speciall vse of euery one, the very same eternall continuance ought to raise vs vp to hope of immortalitie. For we see, that whatsoeuer is earthly and of the worlde, endureth but for a time,² yea and is very fraile. Therefore Christe, to lifte vp oure hope vnto heauen, pronounceth that his kingdome is not of this worlde. Finally, when any of vs heareth, that the kingdome of Christe is spiritual, let him be raised vp with this saieng, and let him pearce to the hope of a better lyfe: and whereas hee is nowe defended by the hande of Christ, let hym looke for the ful frute of this grace in the world to come.