The Institution of Christian Religion

It they love so well to follow Allegories, let them set Christ before them for the only priest, and heap upon his judgement seat the free jurisdiction of all things: this we can easily be content to suffer. Moreover their allegory is very unfit, that setteth among the ceremonies that law which is merely politic. Why then did Christ send the leprous men to the priests? That the priests should not cavil that he did break the law that commanded the man healed of the leprosy, to be showed before the priest and purged with offering of sacrifice: therefore he commanded ⟨image 218⟩the leprous men being cleansed, to do that which belonged to the law. Go (saith he) and show your selves to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses hath commanded in the law that it should be for a witness unto them. And truly this miracle should have ben a witness unto them, for they had pronounced them leprous, and now they pronounce them healed. Are they not whether they will or no compelled to become witnesses of Christs miracles? Christ leaveth to them his miracle to be examined,¹ they can not deny it. But because they still dally with it, therefore this work is for a witness unto them. So in an other place: This Gospel shall be preached in all the world, for a witness to all nations. Again: ye shall be led before kings and governors, for a witness to them. that is: that in the judgemen•e of God they may be more strongly convinced.² But if they had rather follow Chrysostom: he also teacheth that Christ did this for the Jews sake, that he should not be accounted a breaker of the law. Albeit in so clear a matter I am ashamed to allege the witness of any man: whereas Christ pronounceth that he leaveth the right of the law whole to the priests as to the professed enemies of the Gospel, which were alway bent to carp against it, if their mouth had not ben stopped. Wherefore that the popish sacrificing priests may still keep this possession, let them openly take parts with them which must of necessity be restrained by force, that they speak not ill against Christ. For this nothing belongeth to his true ministers.

It thei loue so wel to folow Allegories, let them set Christ before them for the only preest, and heape vpon his iudgement seate the free iurisdiction of al things: this we can easily be content to suffer. Moreouer their allegorie is very vnfitt, that setteth among the ceremonies that lawe whiche is mearly politike. Why then did Christe send the leprous menne to the preestes? That the preestes shoulde not cauill that hee did breake the lawe that commaunded the man healed of the leprosie, to bee shewed before the preeste and purged with offering of sacrifice: therefore he commaunded