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Author: Calvin, Jean, 1509-1564.
Title: The institutions of Christian religion, written by the reuerend father, M. Iohn Caluin, compendiously abridged by Edmond Bunnie Bachellour of diuinitie; and translated into English by Edward May
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Print source: The institutions of Christian religion, written by the reuerend father, M. Iohn Caluin, compendiously abridged by Edmond Bunnie Bachellour of diuinitie; and translated into English by Edward May
Calvin, Jean, 1509-1564., May, Edward, b. 1546 or 7., Bunny, Edmund, 1540-1619.
Imprinted at London: At the three Cranes in the Vinetree, by Thomas Dawson, for William Norton, 1580.
Alternate titles: Institutio Christianae religionis. English. Abridgments
Subject terms:
Catholic Church -- Controversial literature.
Reformed Church -- Doctrines -- Early works to 1800.
URL: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A69054.0001.001
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
To the reuerend Father in Christ, John, by the per∣mission of Almightie God, Bishop of London, Edward May wisheth the true felicitie of this life, and the eternall happinesse by the com∣ming of Iesus Christ.
Of the knowledge of God the Creator.
book
The first booke,
Cap. 1. That the knowledge of God and of our selues, are things ioined togeather, and how they agree the one with the other.
Cap. 2. What it is to knowe God, and to what end, tendeth the knowledge of him.
Cap. 3. That the knowledge of God is natu∣rallie planted in the mindes of men.
Cap. 4. That the same knowledge is either cho¦ked, or corrupted, partlie by igno∣rance, partlie by malice.
Cap. 5. That the knowledge of God doth shi∣ninglie appeare in the making of the world, and in the continuall go∣uernment thereof.
Cap. 6. That to attaine to God the Creator, it is needefull to haue the scripture to be our guide and maistresse.
Cap. 7. By what testimonie the scripture ought to be established, that is, by the wit∣nesse of the holy Ghost, that the au∣thoritie therof may remaine certain: And that it is a wicked inuention, to say, that the credite thereof hangeth vpon the iudgement of the Church.
Cap. 8. That so far as mans reason may beare, there are sufficient proofes to esta∣blish the credite of the Scripture.
Cap. 9. That these fantastical mē, which forsa∣king Scripture resort vnto Reuela∣tion, doe ouerthrowe all the princi∣ples of religion.
Cap. 10. The Scripture to correct all superstiti∣on, doeth in comparison set the true God against all the Gods of the Gentiles, reckoning him for none of them.
Cap. 11. That it is vnlawfull to attribute vnto God a visible forme: and that ge∣nerally thei forsake God, so many as doe erect to them selues any Ima∣ges.
Cap. 12. That God is seuerally discerned from Idols, that he may be only and who∣ly worshipped.
Chapter 13. That there is taught in the scriptures, one essence of God from the very creation, which essence conteineth in it three persons.
Cap. 14. That the Scripture euen in the creation of the world and of all things, doth by certayne markes put difference betweene the true God and fayned Gods.
Cap. 15. What a one Man was created: wherin is entreated of the powers of the soule, of the image of God, of free will, and of the first integritie of na∣ture.
Cap. 16. That God by his power doth nourishe and mainteine the world, which him selfe hath created, and by his proui∣dence doeth gouerne all the partes thereof.
Cap. 17. Whervnto, and to what ende this do∣ctrine is to be applied, that wee may be certaine of the profite thereof.
Cap. 18. That God doeth so vse the seruice of wicked men, and so boweth their mindes to put his iudgement in ex∣ecution, that yet still himselfe remai∣neth pure from all spot.
The second Booke entrea∣teth of the knowledge of God the Redeemer in Christ: which knowledge was first opened to the Fathers in the tyme of the Law, and then to vs in the Gospell.
Cap. 1. That by Adams sinne and falling away, mankinde became accursed, and did degenerate frō his first state: wher∣in is entreated of originall sinne.
Cap. 2. That man is nowe spoyled of the free∣dome of will, and made subiect to miserable bondage.
Cap. 3. That out of the corrupt nature of man proceedeth no thing but damnable.
Cap. 4. Howe God worketh in the heartes of men.
Cap. 5. A confutation of the obiections that are wont to be brought for defence of free will.
Cap. 6. That man being lost, must seeke for re∣demption in Christ.
Cap. 7. That the lawe was giuen not to holde still the olde people in it, but to nou∣rishe the hope of saluation in Christ, vntill his comming.
Cap. 8. An exposition of the Morall law.
Cap. 9. That Christ although hee was knowne to the Iewes vnder the lawe, yet was deliuered only by the Gospell.
Cap. 10. Of the lykenesse of the newe, and olde Testament.
Cap. 11. Of the difference of the one testament from the other.
Cap. 12. That it behooued that Christ to per∣fourme the office of the Mediator, shoulde be made man.
Cap. 13. That Christ tooke vpon him the true substance of the fleshe of man.
Cap. 14. How the two natures of the mediator, doe make one person.
Cap. 15. That we may know to what end Christ was sent of his Father, and what he brought vs: three things are princi∣pally to bee considered in him, his propheticall office, his kingdome, and his Priesthood.
Cap. 16. Howe Christ hath fulfilled the office of a Redeemer to purchase saluation for vs: wherein is entreated of his death and resurrection, and his as∣cending into heauen.
Cap. 17. That it is truely and properly sayd, that Christ hath deserued Gods fauour and saluation for vs.
The thirde booke entrea∣teth of the manner howe to re∣ceiue the grace of Christe, and what profite doeth growe vnto vs, and what effectes thereof.
Chapter 1. That those thinges which are spoken of Christ, doe profite vs by secrete working of the holy Ghost.
Cap. 2. Of faith wherein is both set the defini∣tion of it, and the properties that it hath.
Cap. 3. That we are regenerate by faith, where∣in is entreated of repentance.
Cap. 4. That all that the Sophisters babble in their schooles, of penance; is farre from the purenesse of the Gospell: where is entreated of confession and satisfaction.
Cap. 5. Of the suppliynges which they adde to satisfactions, as pardons & pur∣gatorie.
Cap. 6. Of the life of a Christian man: And first by what arguments the scripture ex∣horteth vs therevnto.
Cap. 7. The sum of a Christiā life: where is en∣treated of the forsaking of our selues
Cap. 8. Of the bearing of the Crosse, which is a part of the forsaking of our selues.
Cap. 9. Of the meditation of the lyfe to come.
Cap. 10. How we ought to vse this present lyfe, and the helpes thereof.
Cap. 11. Of the iustification of Fayth, and first of the definition of the name and of the thing.
Cap. 12. That to the ende we may be fully per∣suaded of the free iustification, wee must lift vp our minds to the iudge∣ment seate of God.
Cap. 13. That there are two thinges to be mar∣ked in free iustification.
Cap. 14. What is the beginning of iustification, and the continuall proceeding ther∣of.
Cap. 15. That those thinges that are commonly boasted concerning the merites of workes, doe ouerthrow as well the praise of God in giuing of righte∣ousnes, as also the assurednes in gi∣uing of saluation.
Cap. 16. A confutation of the slaunders, wherby the Papists goe about to bring this doctrine into hatred.
Cap. 17. The agreement of the promises of the Lawe and the Gospell.
Cap. 18. That by rewarde, the righteousnesse of workes is ill gathered.
Cap. 19. Of christian libertie,
Cap. 20. Of prayer which is the chiefe exercise of Fayth, and whereby we daily re∣ceiue the benifites of God.
From the Chapter 21. to the 24.
Cap. 21. Of the eternall election, wherby God hath predestinate some to saluation, and other some to destruction.
Cap. 23. A confutation of the slaunders where∣with this doctrine hath alway bene wrongfully burthened.
Cap. 24. That electiō is stablished by the calling of God: but that the reprobate doe bring vpon them selues the iust de∣struction whervnto they are appoin∣ted.
Cap. 25. Of the last resurrection.
Of the outwarde meanes and helpes wherewith God doeth allure vs to the fellowship of Christ, and holdeth vs in the same.
Cap. 1. Of the true Church with which wee ought to keepe vnitie, because it is the mother of the faithfull.
Cap. 2. A comparison of the false Church with the true.
Cap. 3. Of the teachers and Ministers of the church, & of their election and office.
Cap. 4. Of the state of the Church & the man∣ner of gouerning that was in vse be∣fore papacie.
Cap. 5. That the old fourme of gouernment is vtterly ouerthrowne by the tyranny of the Papasie.
Cap. 6. Of the Supremacie of the sea of Rome.
Cap. 7. Of the beginning & encreasing of the Papasie of Rome, vntil it aduanced it selfe to this height, whereby both the liberty of the church was oppres∣sed, and all right gouernment ouer∣throwne.
Cap. 8. Of the power of the Churche, as tou∣ching the articles of Fayth, and with how vnbrideled licentiousnes it hath in the Papasie beene wrested to cor∣rupt all purenes of doctrine.
Cap. 9. Of Councels and their authoritie.
Cap. 10. Of the power of making lawes, wher∣in the Pope and his haue vsed a most cruell tyrannie and butchery vppon soules.
Cap. 11. Of the iurisdiction of the Church, and the abuse thereof, such as is seene in Papasie.
Cap. 12. Of the discipline of the Church, wher∣of the chiefe vse is in the Censures and excommunication.
Cap. 13. Of vowes by rashe promising, whereof each man hath miserably entangled him selfe.
Cap. 14. Of Sacramentes.
Cap. 15. Of Baptisme.
Cap. 16. That the Baptisme of infants doth ve∣ry well agree with the institutions of Christe, and the nature of the signe.
Cap. 17. Of the holie Supper of Christe, and what it auaileth.
Cap. 18. Of the Popish Masse, by which sacri∣ledge the Supper of the Lorde, hath not only beene prophaned, but also brought to naught.
Cap. 19. Of the fiue falsly named Sacramentes: where is declared, that the other fiue which haue beene hetherto com∣monly taken for Sacraments, are not Sacramentes: and then is shewed what manner of things they be.
Cap. 20. Of Ciuill gouernment.
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