The Institution of Christian Religion

Therefore if we believe that all the mean of prosperous success and such as is to be wished, consisteth in the only blessing of God, which being absent, all kinds of misery and calamity must happen unto us: this remaineth also, that we do not greedily endeavour to wealth and honours standing upon our own finesse of wit or diligence, nor ⟨p. 163⟩leaving to the favour of men, nor trusting upon a vain imagination of fortune, but that we alway look unto the Lord, to be led by his guiding to what so ever lot he hath provided. So first it shall come to pass, that we shall not violently rush to the catching of richesse and invading of honours, by wrong, by guile and evil crafty means, or extortion with doing injury to our neighbours, but shall only follow those fortunes that may not lead us from innocence. For who may hope for the help of Gods blessing among frauds, extortions, and other subtle means of wickedness? For as Gods blessing followeth no man but him that thinketh purely, & doeth rightly, so it calleth back all them of whom it is desired, from crooked thoughts, and corrupt doings. Then, we shall be bridled that we burn not with immeasurable desire of growing rich, nor ambitiously gape for honours. For with what face may a man trust to be holpen of God, to obtain those things that he desireth against his word? For God forbid that God should give the help of his blessing to that which he curseth with his own mouth. Last of all, if it succeed not according to our wish and hope, yet we shall be restrained from impatience, and from cursing our estate what soever it be: because we know that that is to murmur against God, at whose will richesse and poverty, baseness and honours are disposed. Briefly, he that resteth himself in such sort as is aforesaid upon the blessing of God, neither will by evil subtleties hunt for those things that men are wont outrageously to covet, by which crafty means he thinketh that he shall nothing prevail: nor if any thing happen prosperously will impute if to himself, and to his own diligence endeavour or to fortune, but will assign it to God the author.

Therefore yf we beleue that all the meane of prosperous successe and such as is to be wished, cōsisteth in the only blessing of God, which beyng absent, all kindes of miserie and calamitie muste happen vnto vs: this remayneth also, that we do not gredyly endeuour to wealth and honours standing vpon our owne finesse of wit or diligence, nor ⟨p. 163⟩