The Institution of Christian Religion

Let this be a principle: that the use of Gods gifts swerveth not out §2of the way, when it is referred to that end, whereunto the author him ⟨image 249⟩self hath created and appointed them for us, for as much as he hath created them for our good and not for our hurt. Therefore no man can keep a righter way, than he that shall diligently look unto this end. Now if we consider to what end he hath created meats, we shall find that he meant to make provision not only for necessity but also for delight & pleasure. So in apparel, beside necessity he appointed an other end, which is comeliness & honesty. In herbs, trees, and fruits, beside diverse profitable uses, there is also a pleasantness of sight, & sweetness of smell. For if this were not true, the Prophet would not reckon among the benefits of God that wine maketh glad the heart of man,¹ & that oil maketh his face to shine: the Scripture would not eachwhere, to set fourth his liberality, rehearse that he hath given all such things to men. And the very natural qualities of things do sufficiently show, to what end and how far we may use them. Shall the Lord have set in flowers so great a beauty, as presenteth it self to our eyes: shall he have given so great a sweetness of savour as naturally floweth into our smelling: and shall it be unlawful either for our eyes to take the use of that beauty, or for our smelling to feel that sweetness of savour? what? Hath he not so made difference of colours, that he hath made some more acceptable than other? what? Hath he not given to gold and silver, to ivory & marble, a special grace whereby they might be made more precious than other metals or stones? Finally hath he not made many things commendable unto us without necessary use?

Let this be a principle: that ye vse of Gods giftes swarueth not out §2of the way, when it is referred to that ende, wherunto the authour him ⟨image 249⟩selfe hath created and apointed them for vs, for as muche as he hathe created them for our good and not for our hurt. Therfore no man can kepe a righter way, than he that shal diligētly loke vnto this end. Now if we consider to what end he hath created meates, we shall finde that he meant to make prouision not only for necessitie but also for delite & pleasure. So in apparell, beside necessitie he apointed an other ende, whiche is comlinesse & honestie. In herbes, trees, and frutes, beside diuerse profitable vses, there is also a pleasantnesse of sight, & swetenesse of smell. For if this were not true, the Prophet would not recken amōg the benefites of God that wyne maketh glad the heart of man,