THE FIRST INSTITUTION ON THE TRUE RELIGION

True and pure religion is faith, formed from heaven by the Holy Spirit through the hearing of the Divine Word, which has the true knowledge of God from the writings of the prophets and apostles, and refers the causes of all good things—election, creation, vocation, justification, regeneration, and glorification—to one sole true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with faith, hope, charity, and the worship of God in spirit and truth, preserving true piety and repentance. Gen. 17, 32, 35; Exod. 3, 5, 20, 32; John 1, 3, 5, 6.

THE SECOND INSTITUTION ON THE TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD

True knowledge of God is heavenly and spiritual wisdom, planted by the Holy Spirit from the Word of God through faith, by which we acknowledge, first, the unity of nature, operation, and worship in God. Secondly, the distinctions of the three witnesses. Thirdly, the manifestation of the Divine will concerning the law and the Gospel, and concerning the causes and ends of divine works, in election, creation, salvation,