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Author: Calvin, Jean, 1509-1564.
Title: The 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
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Print source: The 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
Calvin, Jean, 1509-1564., Norton, Thomas, 1532-1584.
Imprinted at London: By Reinolde VVolfe & Richarde Harison, Anno. 1561 [6 May] Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum.
Alternate titles: Institutio Christianae religionis. English
Subject terms:
Reformed Church -- Early works to 1800.
Theology, Doctrinal -- Early works to 1800.
URL: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A17662.0001.001
How to cite: For suggestions on citing this text, please see Citing the TCP on the Text Creation Partnership website.

Table of Contents
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title page
The Printers to the Reders.
Ihon Caluin to the Reader.
¶To the moste mightie and noble Prince, Francisce the most Christian kyng the French kyng his soueraigne Lorde, Iohn Caluine wisheth peace and saluation in Christ.
THE FYRST BOOKE OF THE INSTI∣TVTION OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION, vvhich intreateth of the Knovvledge of God the Creatour.
¶The .i. Chapter. That the knowledge of God, and of oure selues, are thynges conioyned: and howe they bee lyncked the one wyth the other.
¶ The .ii. Chapter. ¶What it is to knowe God, and to what ende tendeth the knowledge of hym.
¶ The .iii. Chapter. That the knowledge of God is naturally planted in the myndes of men.
The .iiii. Chapter. That thesame knowledge is either choked, or corrupted, partly by ignoraunce, and partly by malice.
The .v. Chapter. ¶That the knowledge of God doeth shiningly appeare in the ma∣kyng of the world and in the continual gouernement thereof.
¶The .vi. Chapter. That, to atteyne to God the Creatour, it is nedefull to haue the scripture to be our guyde and maistresse.
¶ The .vii. Chapter. By what testimony the Scripture oughte to be established, that is by the witnesse of the holy gost, that the authoritie therof may remaine certaine. And that it is a wycked inuention to say that the eryt therof doeth hangs vpon the iudgemente of the churche.
¶ The .viii. Chapter. That so farre as mans reason may beare, there are sufficient proues to stablyshe the credite of Scripture.
¶The .ix. Chapter. ¶That those fanaticall men, which forsakyng scripture, resort vnto reuelation, doo ouerthrowe all the principles of godlynesse.
The .x. Chapter. That the Scripture, to correct all supersticion, doth in comparison set the true God against al the Gods of the gentiles, reckening hym for none of them.
The .xi. Chapter. That it is vnlawfull to attribute vnto God a visible forme, and that gene∣rally they forsake God, so many as do erect to them selues any images.
¶The .xii. Chapter. That God is seuerally discerned from idols, that he may be only and wholly worshipped.
The .xiii. Chapter. That there is taught in the scriptures one offence of God from the very creation, whiche essence conteineth in it thre persons:
¶ The .xiiii. Chapter. That the Scripture euen in the creacion of the world and of al things: both by certayne markes putte difference betwene the true God, and ayned▪ Gods.
¶ The .xv. Chapter. What a one man was created: wherin there is entreated of the po∣wers of the soule, of the image of God, of free wyll and of the first in∣tegritie of nature.
¶The .xvi. Chapter. That God by his power dooth monishe and mainteyne the worlde, whiche hym selfe hath created, and by his prouidence doeth gouerne al the partes therof.
The .xvii. Chapter. Wherto and to what ende this doctrine is to be applied, that we may be certaine of the profite therof.
¶The .xviii. Chapter. That God doth so vse the seruice of wycked men, and so voweth their mindes to put hys iudgementes in execution, that yet styll himselfe remayneth pure from all spot.
The seconde booke of the Institution of Christian religion, whiche intreateth of ye knowledge of God the Redemer in Christ, whiche knowledge was firste opened to the Fathers in the time of the Lawe, and then to vs in the Gospell.
The fyrste Chapter. That by Adames sinne and fallynge awaye, man∣kinde became accursed, & did degenerate from hys firste estate: wherin is intreated of Original sinne.
The seconde Chapter. That man is newe spoyled of the Freedome of wyll, and made subiecte to myserable bondage.
The third Chapter. ¶ That out of the corrupt nature of man procedeth nothing but damnable.
The fourth Chapter. ¶ How God worketh in the heartes of men.
The fift Chapter. ¶A confutacion of the obiections that are wont to be brought for defence of Free wyll.
The sixte Chapter. ¶ That manne beyng loste, must seke for redemption in Christ.
The seuenth Chapter. ¶That the lawe was geuen, not to holde still the people in it, but to nourish the hope of saluation in Christ vn∣till his comyng.
The eyghte Chapter. An exposition of the Morall lawe.
The first Commaundement.
The Second Commaundement.
The third Commaundement.
The fourth Commaundement.
The fifte Commaundement.
The sixte Commaundement.
The seuenth Commaundement.
The eyghte Commaundement.
The nynthe Commaundement.
The tenthe Commaundement.
The. ix. Chapter. ¶ That Christ, although he was knowen to the Iewes vnder the law, yet was deliuered only by the Gospell.
The. x. Chapter. ¶Of the likenesse of the olde and newe Testamen.
The xi Chapter. Of the difference of the one Testament from the other.
The. xii. Chapter. ¶That it behoued, that Christ, to performe the office of the Mediatour, should be made man.
The .xiii. Chapter. ¶ That Christ toke vpon him the true substance of the flesh of man.
The .xiiii. Chapter. ¶ Howe the wo natures of the Mediatour do make one persone.
The .xv Chapter. That we maie knowe, to what ende Christ was sent of his Father, and what he brought vs: three thinges are principally to be considered in him, hys Propheticall office, his Kingdome, and his Preesthoode.
The .xvi. Chapter. Howe Christe hathe fulfilled the office of Redeemer, to purchace saluacion for vs, Wherin is intreated of his Deathe, and Resurrection, and hys Ascendyng into Heauen.
The .xvii. Chapter. ¶ That it is truely and properly sayde, that Christ hath deserued Gods fauour and saluation for vs.
The thirde booke of the Institution of Christian Religion, Whiche entreateth of the manner howe to receiue the grace of Christ, and what profites do growe vn∣to vs, and what effectes ensue thereof.
The fyrste Chapter. That those thinges which are spoken of Christ, do profite vs by secret working of the holy Ghoste.
The seconde Chapiter. Of faithe, wherein bothe is sette the definition of it, and the propreties that it hathe, are declared.
The thyrde Chapter. That we ar regenerate by faithe. Wherein is entreatch of Repentance.
The fourth Chapter. ¶That all that the Sophisters babble in their scholes of Penance, is far from the purenesse of the Gospell. Where is entreated of Confession and Satisfaction.
The fifte Chapter. ¶ Of the suppliynges whiche they adde to satisfactions, as pardons and purgatory.
The sixt Chapter. ¶Of the life of a Christian man: And first by what argumentes the Scripture exhorteth vs therunto.
The seuenth Chapter. ¶The summe of a Christian lyfe: where is utreated of the forsaking of our selues.
The eight Chapter. ¶ Of the bearyng of the crosse, whiche is a part of the forsakyng of our selues.
The .ix. Chapter. ¶Of the meditation of the life to come.
The tenth Chapter. ¶Howe we ought to vse this present lyfe, and the helpes thereof.
The aleuenth Chapter. ¶Of the iustification of Fayth, and fyrst of the definition of the name and of the thyng.
The .xii. Chapter. ¶ That, to the end we may be fully perswaded of the free iustification, we muste lift vp our mindes to the iudgement scare of God.
The .xiii. Chapter. ¶ That there are two thynges to be marked in free iusti∣fication.
The .xiiii. Chapter. ¶What is the beginning of iustification, and the continuall procedinges therof.
The .xv. Chapter. ¶ That those thinges that are commōly boasted concernyng the merites of workes, do ouerthrow as well the praise of God in geuing of righte∣ousnesse, as also the assurednesse of saluation.
The .xvi. Chapter. ¶A confutation of the sclaunders, whereby the Papistes goe about to bryng this doctrine in hatred.
The .xvii. Chapter. ¶ The agreement of the promises of the lawe and the Gospell.
The .xviii. Chapter. That of the rewarde, the righteousnesse of Workes is ill gathered.
The .xix. Chapter. Of Christian libertie.
The .xx. Chapter. ¶ Of prayer, which is the chiefe exercise of faith, and whereby we dayly receiue the benefites of God.
¶The. xxi. Chapiter. Of the eternall Election, wherby God hath predestinate some to saluation, and other some to destruction.
¶The .xxii. Chapiter. A confirmation of this doctrine by testimonies of the Scripture.
¶The .xxiii. Chapiter. A Confutation of the sclaunders wherwith this doctrine hath alwaye been wrongfully burdened.
The .xxiiii. Chapter. ¶ That Election is stablished by the callyng of God; but that the reprobrate do bryng vpon themselues the iust destruction wher∣unto they are apoynted.
The .xxv. Chapter. Of the laste Resurrection.
THE FOVRTH BOKE OF THE INSTI∣tution of Christen religion, which entreateth of the outvvard meanes or helpes, vvherby God allureth vs into the felovvshyp of Christ and holdeth vs therein.
¶ The first Chapter. Of the true Churche with which we ought to kepe vnitie, because it is the mother of al the godly.
The .ii. Chapter. A comparison of the false Chirche with the true Chirche.
¶ The .iii. Chapter. ¶Of the teachers and ministers of the Chirche, and of theyr election and office.
The .iiii. Chapter. Of the state of the olde Chirche, and of the maner of gouernyng that was in vse before the Papacie.
¶The .v. Chapter. That the olde forme of gouernement is vtterly ouerthrowen by the tyranny of the Papacie.
The .vi. Chapter. ¶Of the Supremicie of the See of Rome.
¶The .vii. Chapter. Of the beginnyng and encreasyng of the Papacie of Rome, vntill it ad∣uaunced it selfe to this height, wherby bothe the libertie of the Chirche hath ben oppressed, and all the right gouernement therof ouerthrowen.
The .viii. Chapter. Of the power of the Chirche as touchyng the articles of Faith: and with howe vnbridled licētiousnesse it hath in the Papacie ben wrested to corrupt all purenesse of Doctrine.
&The .ix. Chapter. Of Councels and of their authoritie.
¶ The .x. Chapter. ¶Of the power in makyng of lawes: wherin the Pope and his haue vsed a moste cruell tyranny and butcherie vpon soules.
The .xi. Chapter. Of the iurisdiction of the Chirch, and the abuse therof, such as is seen in the Papacie.
¶ The .xii. Chapter. Of the discipline of the Chirch, wherof the chefe vse is in the censures and excommunication.
¶The .xiii. Chapter. Of vowes, by rash promising wherof eche man hath miserably entangled himselfe.
¶ The .xiiii. Chapter. Of Sacramentes,
¶The .xv. Chapter. Of Baptisme.
¶The .xvi. Chapter. That the Baptisme of infantes doth very well agree with the insti∣tution of Christ and the nature of the signe.
¶The .xvii. Chapiter. ¶Of the holy Supper of Christ: and what if auayleth vs.
¶The .xviii. Chapiter. ¶Of the Popishe Masse, by whiche sacrilege the Supper of Christ hath not only ben prophaned, but also brought to nought.
The .xix. Chapter. Of the fiue falsly named Sacramentes: where is declared, that the other fyue which haue ben hetherto commonly taken for Sacra∣mentes, are not Sacramentes: and then is shewed what manner of thinges they be.
¶Of Confirmation.
Of Penance.
Of extreme vnction as they cal it.
Of ecclesiasticall Orders.
Of Matrimonie.
The .xx. Chapter.
VVhat Chapiters are contei∣ned in the bokes of this Institution.
¶ In the first boke which entreateth of the know∣lege of God the Creator. Are conteined, XViii. Chapiters.
¶In the second Boke which intreateth of the know∣ledge of God the Redemer in Christ, which knowledge was first opened to the fathers in the tyme of the lawes, and then to vs in the Gospell. Are conteyned, XVII. Chapiters.
¶In the thirde Boke whiche entreateth of the maner how to receiue the grace of Christe, and what fruites come ther∣of to vs, and what effectes folowe of it. Are conteyned, XXV. Chapiters.
In the fowerth Boke which entreateth Of the meanes or helpes wherby God calleth vs into the felowshyp of Christ, and holdeth vs in it, are conteined XX. Chapiters.
A Table of the chefe maters conteined in this Booke.
part A
part B
part C
part D
part E
part F
part G
part H
part I
part K
part L
part M
part N
part O
part P
part R
part S
part T
part U
part W
colophon