A17662:974
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.
The fifth Chapter. ¶ Of the suppliynges which they add to satisfactions, as pardons and purgatory.
The fifte Chapter. ¶ Of the suppliynges whiche they adde to satisfactions, as pardons and purgatory.
Out of this doctrine of satisfactions do flow indulgences or pardons. For they say that that which our power wan teth to make satisfaction, is supplied by these pardons. And they run so far forth into madness, that they define them to be the distribution of the merits of Christ & of the martyrs, which? Pope dealeth abroad by his bulls. But although they have more need of Helleborus to purge their frenetic brain, than arguments to answer them, so that it is not much worthy that travail to stand upon confuting such trifling errors, which are already shaken with many ⟨p. 153⟩battle rams, and of them selves grow into decayed age, and bend toward falling: yet because a short confutation of them shall be profitable for some that be ignorant, I will not altogether omit it. As for this that pardons have so long stand safe, and have so long ben unpunished, having ben used with so outrageous and furious licentiousness: this may serve to teach us in how dark a night of errors, men in certain ages past have ben drowned. They saw them selves to be openly & uncolouredly scorned of the Pope and his Bulbearers, gainful markets to be made of the salvation of their souls, the price of salvation to be valued at a few pence, and nothing set out to be freely given: that by this colour they be wiped of offerings to be filthily spent upon brothels, bawds and banquetings: that the greatest blowers abroad of pardons are the greatest despisers of them: that this monster doth daily more and more with greater licentiousness overrun the world, & grow into outrage, and that there is no end, new lead daily brought, and new money gotten. Yet with high reverence they received, they worshipped and bought pardons, and such as among the rest saw somewhat farther, yet though them to be godly deceits, whereby men might be beguiled with some profit. At the length, sins the world suffered it self to be somewhat wiser, pardons wax cold, and by little and little become frozen, till they utterly vanish away.