The Institution of Christian Religion

For the father hath given all power to the son, that by the sons hand he may govern, cherish and sustain us, defend us under his safeguard, and help us. So while for a little time we are wavering abroad from God, Christ is the mean between God and us, by little and little to bring us to perfect conjoining with God. And truly, whereas he sitteth on the right hand of the father, that is as much in effect, as if he were called the fathers deputy, under whom is the whole power of his dominion, because it is Gods will to rule and defend his Church by a mean (as I may so call it) in the person of his Sonne. As also Paul doth expound it in the first chapter to the Ephesians, that he was set at the right hand of the father, to be the head of the Church, which is his body. And to no other meaning tendeth that which he teacheth in an other place,¹ that there is given him a name above all names, that in the name of Jesus all knees should bow, and all tongues confess that it is to the glory of God the Father. For even in the same words also he setteth out in the kingdom of Christ an order necessary for our present weakness. So Paul gathereth rightly, that God shall then be by himself the only head of the church, because Christs office in defending of the Church, shall be fulfilled. For ⟨p. 94⟩the same reason the Scripture commonly calleth him Lord, because his Father did set him over us to this end, to exercise his own Lordly power by him. For though• there be many lordships in the world, yet is there to us but one God the father, of whom are all things and we in him, and one Lord Christ, by whom are all things and we by him, saith Paul. Whereupon is rightly gathered that he is the self same God,² which by the mouth of Isaiah affirmed him self to be the king and the lawmaker of the Church. For though he do every where call all the power that he hath, the benefit and gift of the Father, yet he meaneth nothing ells, but that he reigneth by power of God: because he hath therefore put on the personage of the Mediator, that descending from the bosom and incomprehensible glory of the father, he might approach nigh unto us.

For the father hathe geuen all power to the sonne, that by the sonnes hande he maye gouerne, cherishe and susteine vs, defende vs vnder hys sauegarde, and helpe vs. So whyle for a lyttle time we are waueringe abroade from God, Christ is the meane betweene God and vs, by lyttle and lyttle to brynge vs to perfect conioyning wyth God. And truely, whereas he sytteth on the right hande of the father, that is as muche in effecte, as yf hee were called the fathers deputee, vnder whome is the whole power of his dominion, bycause it is Gods will to rule and defende hys Churche by a meane (as I maie so call it) in the person of hys Sonne. As also Paule dothe expounde it in the fyrste chapiter to the Ephesians, that he was sette at the ryght hande of the father, to be the heade of the Churche, whyche is his body. And to no other meanynge tendeth that whyche hee teacheth in an other place,