A17662:959
The Institution of Christian Religion
The institution of Christian religion, written in Latin by master John Calvin, and translated into English according to the authors last edition. Seen and allowed according to the order appointed in the Queens majesties injunctionsThe institution of Christian religion, vvrytten in Latine by maister Ihon Caluin, and translated into Englysh according to the authors last edition. Seen and allowed according to the order appointed in the Quenes maiesties iniunctions
London: printed by Reinolde Wolfe & Richard Harison, 1561London: printed by Reinolde VVolfe & Richarde Harison, 1561
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
What, I pray you, had Christ done for us, if we would still be compelled §30to suffer pain for sins? For when we say that he did bear all our sins in his body upon the tree,1 we mean nothing else there by but that he suffered all the pain and punishment that was due to our sins.2 And the same hath Isaiah more lively declared where he saith: y• chastisement (or correction) of our peace, was upon him. What is the correction of our peace but the pain due to sin? & which we should have suffered before that we could be reconciled to God, unless that he had ⟨image 227⟩entered into our stead? Lo, thou seest plainly, that Christ suffered the pains of sins,3 to deliver them that be his from them. And so oft as Paul maketh mention of the redemption performed by Christ, he useth to call it in Greek Apolutrosin, whereby he meaneth not only redemption, as it is commonly taken, but the very price and satisfaction of redemption. After which manner he writeth, that Christ gave him self An•ilutron, a price of ransom for us. What propitiation is there with the Lord (saith Augustine) but sacrifice? And what sacrifice is there, but that which is offered for us in the death of Christ? But that which is appointed in the law of Moses for cleansing the offences of sins, ministereth us a strong battle ram. For the lord doth not there appoint this or that manner of satisfying, but requireth the whole recompense in sacrifices. Whereas yet in other things, he doth most diligently and in most exact order set out all the ceremonies of expiation. Now cometh it to pass, that he commandeth to recompense faults committed, with not works at all, but requireth only sacrifices for satisfaction: but because his will is so to declare, that there is only one kind of satisfaction, whereby his judgement is appeased? For the sacrifices that the Israelites did then offer, were not weighed by the work of men, but were esteemed by their truth, that is to say, by the only sacrifice of Christ. But what manner of recompense the Lord receiveth of us,