The Institution of Christian Religion

Sith both our soul and our body are ordained to heavenly incorruption and an unperishing crown, we must diligently travail, that the same may be kept pure and uncorrupted unto the day of the Lord. These (I say) be the best laid foundations to build a mans life, and such as the like are not to be found among the Philosophers, which in commendation of virtue do never climb above the natural dignity of man.

Sithe both our soule and our body are ordeyned to heauenly incorruption and an vnperishing crowne, we must diligently trauayll, that the same may be kept pure and vncorrupted vnto the day of the Lord. These (I say) be the best layed foundations to bylde a mans lyfe, and suche as the lyke are not to be found among the Phylosophers, whiche in commendation of vertue doe neuer climbe aboue the naturall dignitie of man.

And hear is a fit place to speak unto them, that having nothing but the title and badge of Christ, yet would be named Christians. But with what face do they boast of his holy name: sith none have any fellowship with Christ, but they that have received a true knowledge of him out of the word of the Gospel?¹ But the Apostle sayeth, that all they have not rightly learned Christ, that are not taught that they must cast alway the old man which is corrupted according to the desire of error, and have not put on Christ. Therefore it is proved that they falsely, yea and wrongfully pretend the knowledge of Christ, although ⟨p. 159⟩they can eloquently and roundly talk of the Gospel. For it is not a doctrine of tong, but of life: & is not conceived as other learnings be, with only understanding & memory, but is then only received when it possesseth the whole soul, & findeth a seat & place to hold it in the most inward affection of the heart. Therefore either let them cease, to the slander of God, to boast of that which they are not, or let them show them selves not unworthy scholars for Christ their master. We have given the first place to the doctrine wherein our religion is contained, because our salvation beginneth at it: but the same must be poured into our heart, & pass into our manners, yea & transform us into it, that it be not unfruitful unto us If the Philosophers do justly chafe against them, & do with shameful reproach drive them from their company, that professing an art that ought to be the schoolmistress of life, do turn it into a Sophistical babbling: with how much better reason shall we detest these trifling Sophisters, that are contented to role the Gospel upon the top of their tongues, the effectual working whereof ought to pierce into the innermost affections of the heart, to rest in the soul, & to alter the whole man a hundred times more, than the cold exhortations of Philosophers?