The institutions of Christian religion, written by the reverend father, M. John Calvin, compendiously…The institutions of Christian religion, written by the reuerend father, M. Iohn Caluin, compendiously…

Cap. 8. That so far as mans reason may bear, there are sufficient proofs to establish the credit of the Scripture.

Cap. 8. That so far as mans reason may beare, there are sufficient proofes to establish the credite of the Scripture.

Although he now descend to arguments, yet unless there be an assurance, which is both more excellent and of more force, than any judgement of man: in vain shall the authority of the Scriptures either be strengthened ⟨p. 9⟩with arguments, or established with consent of the Church, or confirmed with any other means of defence: as on the contrary part when we have embraced it devoutly, and with true faith, when as things which were not of such force to fasten the assurance thereof in our minds will become very fit helps. Which having spoken, he setteth himself to the arguments, & first although he begin generally to handle this argument, yet he falleth by little and little to those things which are drawn only out of the old Testament: but the arguments are, that the scripture is as well ordered, as disposed in every place heavenly, and nothing savouring earthly: that there is so beautiful agreement of all parts among them selves, but chiefly that it should utter to us the high mysteries of the heavenly kingdom under a contemptible baseness of words,¹ and so should bring to pass and enforce that the eloquence of his Rhetoricians should sit in a far more inferior place.

ALthough he now discend to arguments, yet vnlesse there be an assurance, which is both more excellent and of more force, than any iudgement of man: in vaine shal the authoritie of the Scriptures either bée strengthened ⟨p. 9⟩with argumentes, or established with consent of the Churche, or confirmed with any other meanes of defence: as on the cōtrary part when we haue embraced it deuoutly, and with true faith, when as things which were not of such force to fasten the assurance thereof in our mindes will become verie fit helps. Which hauing spoken, he setteth himself to the arguments, & first although he begin generally to handle this argument, yet hée falleth by litle and litle to those things which are drawne only out of the olde Testament: but the argumēts are, that the scripture is as wel ordered, as disposed in euery place heauenly, and nothing sauouring earthly: that there is so beautifull agréement of all parts among them selues, but chiefly that it should vtter to vs the high mysteries of the heauenly kingdome vnder a contemptible basenes of words,