The Institution of Christian Religion

For between these two there is no mean, the earth must either become §2vile in our sight, or hold us bound with intemperate love of it. Therefore if we have any care of eternity, we must diligently endeavour to loose our selves from these fetters. Now because this present life hath many flattering pleasures wherewith to allure us, a great show of pleasantness, grace, & sweetness, wherewith to delight us: it is much behoveful for us to be now and then called away, that we be not bewitched with such allurements. For what, I pray you, would be done if we did here enjoy a continual concourse of good things & felicity, sith we can not with continual spurs of evils be sufficiently awaked to consider the misery thereof? Not only the learned do know, but also the common people have no Proverb more common than this, that mans life is like a smoke or shadow: and because they saw it to be a thing very profitable to be known, they have set it out with many notable sentences. But there is nothing that we do either more negligently consider, or less remember. For we go about all things, as though we would frame to our selves an immortality in earth. If there be a corps carried to burial, or if we walk among graves, then, because there is an image of death before our eyes, I grant we do marvellously well discourse like Philosophers upon the vanity of this life. Albeit we do not it continually, for many times all these things do nothing move us. But when it happeneth, our Philosophy lasteth but a while, which so soon as we turn our backs, wanisheth away, & leaveth no steppe at all of remembrance behind it: finally it passeth away as a clapping of hands upon a stage at any pleasant sight. And we forgetting not only death, but also that we be subject to death, as though we had never heard any report thereof, fall to a careless assuredness of earthly immortality. If any man in the mean time tell us of the Proverb, that man is a creature of a days continuance, we grant it in deed: but so heedlessly, that still the thought of everlasting continuance resteth in our mind. Who therefore can deny, that it is a great profit to us all, not only to be admonished in words, but by all the examples of experience that may be to be convinced of the miserable estate of earthly life:

For betwene these two there is no meane, the earth must either become §2vile in our sight, or holde vs bound with intemperate loue of it. Therfore if we haue any care of eternitie, we must diligētly endeuour to loose our selues frō these fetters. Now bicause this presēt life hath many flatteryng pleasures wherewith to allure vs, a great shewe of pleasantnesse, grace, & swetenesse, wherwith to delite vs: it is much behoueful for vs to be now and then called away, that we be not bewitched with such alluremētes. For what, I pray you, would be done if we did here enioy a continual concourse of good things & felicitie, sithe we can not with continuall spurres of euels be sufficiently awaked to consider the miserie thereof? Not only the learned doe knowe, but also the common people haue no Prouerbe more common than this, that mans life is like a smoke or shadow: and bycause they sawe it to bee a thyng very profitable to be knowen, they haue set it out with many notable sentēces. But there is nothyng that we do either more negligently consider, or lesse remember. For we goe aboute all thinges, as though we would frame to our selues an immortalitie in earth. If ther be a corps caried to burial, or if we walk amōg graues, then, bicause there is an image of death before our eyes, I graunt we do maruelously well discourse like Phylosophers vpon the vanitie of this life. Albeit we do not yt cōtinually, for many times al these things do nothing moue vs. But when it happeneth, our Philosophie lasteth but a while, which so sone as we turne our backes, wanisheth awaye, & leaueth no steppe at al of remēbrance behinde it: finally it passeth away as a clapping of hādes vpō a stage at any pleasant sight. And we forgetting not only death, but also yt we be subiect to death, as though we had neuer heard any report therof, fall to a carelesse assurednesse of earthly immortalitie. If any mā in the meane time tel vs of ye Prouerbe, that man is a creature of a dayes continuance, we graunt it in deede: but so heedelesly, yt still the thought of euerlastyng continuance resteth in our minde. Whoe therfore can denie, that it is a great profit to vs all, not only to be admonished in wordes, but by all the exāples of experiēce that may be to be cōuinced of ye miserable estate of earthly life: