The Institution of Christian Religion

And it is not to be doubted, that Adam, Noah, Abraham and the rest of the fathers by this help attained to that familiar knowledge, which made them as it were severally different from the unbelievers. I speak not yet of the proper doctrine of faith, wherewith they were enlightened into the hope of eternal life. For, that they might pass from death to life, it was needful for them to know God not only to be the creator, but also the redeemer: as doubtless they obtained both by the word. For that kind of knowledge whereby was given to understand who is the God by whom the world was made and is governed, in order came before the other: and then was that other inward knowledge adjoined, which only quickeneth dead souls, whereby God is known not only to be the maker of the world and the only author and judge of all things that are done, but also to be the redeemer in the person of that mediator. But because I am not yet come to the fall of the world and corruption of nature, I will omit also to entreat of the remedy thereof. Therefore let the readers remember that I do not yet speak of the covenant whereby God hath adopted to himself the children of Abraham, and of that special part of doctrine whereby the faithful have alway been peculiarly severed from the profane nations: because that doctrine was founded upon Christ: but I speak how we ought to learn by the Scripture, that god which is the creator of the world, is by certain marks severally discerned from the counterfeit multitude of false gods. And then the order it self shall conveniently bring us to the redeemer. But although we shall allege may testimonies out of the new testament, & some also out of the law and ⟨image 21⟩the Prophets, wherein is express mention made of Christ: yet they shall all tend to this end, to prove that in the Scripture is disclosed unto us God the creator of the world, and in the scripture is set forth what we ought to think of him to the end that we should not seek about the busy for an uncertain godhead.

And it is not to be douted, yt Adam, Noe, Abraham and the rest of the fathers by this help attained to that familiar knowledge, which made them as it wer seuerally differente from the vnbeleuers. I speake not yet of the proper doctrine of faith, wherwith they wer enlightened into the hope of eternall life. For, that they myght passe from death to life, it was nedefull for them to knowe God not only to be the creatoure, but also the redemer: as doutlesse they obteined both by the worde. For that kinde of knowledge wherby was geuen to vnderstande who is the God by whō the worlde was made and is gouerned, in order came before the other: and thē was that other inwarde knowledge adioined, which onely quickeneth dead soules, wherby God is knowen not onely to be the maker of the worlde and the onely authour and iudge of all thinges that are done, but also to be the redemer in the person of that mediatour. But because I am not yet come to the fal of the world and corrupcion of nature, I will omit also to entreate of the remedy therof. Therefore let the readers remember that I do not yet speake of the couenaunt whereby God hath adopted to hymselfe the children of Abraham, and of that specyal parte of doctrine wherby the faithful haue alway been peculiarly seuered frō the prophane nations: because that doctrine was founded vpon Christ: but I speake how we ought to learne by the Scripture, that god which is the creator of the world, is by certaine markes seuerallye discerned from the counterfait multitude of false gods. And thē the order it selfe shal conueniently bring vs to the redemer. But although we shal allege may testimonies out of the new testamēt, & some also out of ye law and