Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.

When began the Church to fall from the truth?

It is one thing for the Church to haue failed in some points, and an other to haue falne away so, as it should be vtterly abolished; while the Apostles liued, heretickes began to sow darnell in the Lords field, to worke the mysterie of iniquitie, and many Anti∣christs began to hee. 2. Thess. 2.7. 1. Iohn. 2, 18.

2 The holy Bishops after the Apostles times through lacke of heede taking, mingled many falshoods with the truth, and left their errours to posteritie, neyther did all faile at once, and at one time. This plague began by little and little to creepe farre and wide, vntill at length it spread the whole world ouer. But in the meane while the Church fell not vtterly away, because God re∣serued to himselfe a remnant of the Elect. And the holy Ghost foretold of a generall Apostacie from the faithb 1.1, and Reuel. 13.3.7. the whole earth followed the beast and wondred, and power was giuen him ouer euerie kinred & nation, and all the inhabitants of the earth, saith Iohn, worshipped him. All, saith he, whose names were not written in the booke of life, that is, all, sauing the Elect.

Notes

• b 1.1

  2. The. 2.3 1. Tim. 4, 1