The Institution of Christian Religion

We ought to hold, as I before said, that the credit of this doctrine, is not established in us, until such time as we be undoubtedly persuaded that God is the author thereof. Therefore the principal proof of the Scripture is commonly taken of the person of God the speaker of it. The Prophets and Apostles boast not of their own sharp wit or any such things as procure credit to m•n that speak: neither stand they upon proves by reason, but they bring forth the holy name of God, thereby to compel the whole world to obedience. Now we have to see how not only by probable opinion, but by apparent truth it is evident, that in this behalf the name of God is not without cause nor deceitfully pretended. If then we will provide well for consciences, that they be not continually carried about with unsteadfast doubting, nor many waver, nor stay at every small stop, this manner of persuasion must be fetched deeper then from either the reasons, judgements or the conjectures of men, even from the secrete testimony of the holy ghost. True in deed it is, that if we listed to work by way of arguments, many things might be alleged that may easily prove, if there be any God in heaven, that the law, the prophecies and the gospel came from him. Yea although men learned and of deep judgement would stand up to to the contrary, and would employ and show forth the whole force of their wits in this disputation: yet if they ⟨p. 15⟩be not so hardened as to become desperately shameless, they would be compelled to confess, that there are seen in the Scripture manifest tokens that it is God that speaketh therein: whereby it may appear that the doctrine thereof is from heaven. And shortly hereafter we shall see, that all the books of the holy Scripture do far excel all other writings what soever they be. Yea if we bring thither pure eyes and uncorrupted senses, we shall forthwith find there the majesty of God, which shall subdue all hardness of gainsaying and enforce us to obey him. But yet they do disorderly, that by disputation travail to establish the perfect credit of the Scripture. And truly although I am not furnished with great dexterity, nor eloquence:

We ought to holde, as I before sayd, that the credit of this doctrine, is not established in vs, vntil such time as we be vndoutedly perswaded that God is the author therof. Therfore the principal profe of ye Scripture is cōmonly taken of the person of God the speaker of it. The Prophetes and Apostles bost not of their own sharpe wit or any such thigs as procure credit to mn that speake: neither stande they vpon proues by reason, but they bring forth the holy name of God, therby to compell the whole world to obedience. Now we haue to see howe not onely by probable opinion, but by apparant truth it is euidēt, that in this behalfe the name of God is not without cause nor deceitfully pretēded. If then we wil prouide wel for consciences, that they be not continually caryed about with vnstedfast douting, nor many wauer, nor stay at euery small stop, this maner of perswasion must be fetched deper then from either the reasons, iudgementes or the coniectures of men, euen from the secrete testimony of the holy ghoste. True in dede it is, that if we lysted to worke by way of argumētes, many thinges might be alleged that may easily proue, if there be any God in heauen, that the law, the prophecies and the gospell came from hym. Yea although men learned and of depe iudgemente would stande vp to to the contrary, and would employ and shew forth the whole force of their wittes in this disputacion: yet if they