The Institution of Christian Religion

Hereupon followeth also this other point, that we seek not the ⟨p. 160⟩things that be our own, but those things that be according to the will of the Lord, and that make to the advancement of his glory. This is also a proof of great profiting, that in a manner forgetting our selves, & altogether leaving the regard of our selves, we travail to employ our study to God & his commandments. For when the Scripture biddeth us to leave private regard of our selves, it doth not only race out of our minds the covetousness of having, the greedy seeking for power & favour of men: but also roteth out ambition & all desire of worldly glory, and other more secrete pestilences. Truly a Christian man must be so fashioned & disposed, to think throughout all his life, that he hath to do with God. In this sort, as he shall examine all his doings by Gods will & judgement: so he shall reverently direct unto him all the earnestly bent diligence of his mind. For he that hath learned to look upon God in all things that he hath to do, is therewithal turned away from all vain thoughts. This is that forsaking of our selves, which Christ even from their first beginning of instruction so earnestly gave in charge to his Disciples: which when it ones hath gotten possession in the heart leaveth no place at all, first neither for pride, nor disdainfulness, nor vain glorious boasting, then neither for covetise, nor filthy lust, nor riotousness, nor daintiness, nor for other evils that are engendered of the love of our selves. Contrariwise wheresoever it reigneth not, there either most filthy vices do range without shame, or if there be any spice of virtue, it is corrupted with perverse desire of glory. For show me a man, if thou canst, that unless he have forsaken him self according to the commandment of the Lord, will of his own free will use goodness among men. For all they that have not ben possessed with this feeling, if they have followed virtue, they have done it at the least for praises sake. And all the Philosophers that ever most of all affirmed that virtue was to be desired for it selves sake, were puffed up with so great pride, that it appeared that they desired virtue for no other thing, but that they might have matter to be proud upon.

Hereupon followeth also this other point, that we seeke not the ⟨p. 160⟩thinges that be our owne, but those thinges that be accordinge to the will of the Lorde, and that make to the aduauncement of his glory. This is also a profe of great profiting, that in a manner forgetting our selues, & altogether leauing ye regarde of our selues, we trauail to employ our study to God & his cōmaundemētes. For when the Scripture biddeth vs to leaue priuate regarde of our selues, it doth not only race out of our mindes the couetousnesse of hauing, the gredy seking for power & fauour of men: but also roteth out ambition & al desire of worldly glorie, and other more secrete pestilences. Truly a Christiā man must be so fashioned & disposed, to thinke throughout al his life, that he hath to do with God. In this sort, as he shal examine al his doings by Gods will & iudgement: so he shal reuerently direct vnto him all the earnestly bent diligence of his minde. For he that hath learned to loke vpō God in all thinges that he hath to do, is therewithall turned away from all vaine thoughtes. This is that forsaking of our selues, whiche Christe euen from their first beginning of instructiō so earnestly gaue in charge to his Disciples: whiche when it ones hath gotten possession in ye heart leaueth no place at all, first neither for pride, nor disdainfulnesse, nor vain glorious bosting, then neither for couetise, nor filthy lust, nor ryotousnesse, nor deintinesse, nor for other euils that are engendred of the loue of our selues. Cōtrariwise whersoeuer it reigneth not, there either moste filthy vices do range without shame, or if ther be any spice of vertue, it is corrupted with peruerse desire of glory. For shew me a man, if thou canst, that vnlesse he haue forsaken him selfe according to the commaundement of the Lorde, will of his owne free will vse goodnesse among men. For all they that haue not ben possessed with this feling, if they haue folowed vertue, they haue done it at ye least for praises sake. And all the Phylosophers that euer moste of all affirmed that vertue was to be desired for it selfes sake, were puffed vp with so great pride, that it appeared that they desired vertue for no other thinge, but that they might haue matter to be proude vpon.