The Institution of Christian Religion

Therefore away with that unnatural Philosophy, which in gram ting us of the creatures no use but for necessity, not only doth niggardly bereave us of the lawful use of Gods liberality, but also can not take place, unless it first have spoiled man of all his senses & made him a block. But on the other side we must with no less diligence provide a stay for the lust of the flesh, which if it be not brought into order, overfloweth without measure: & it hath (as I have said) defenders of it, which under pretence of allowed liberty do grant unto it all things. First there is one bridle put in the mouth of it, if this be determined, that all things are created for us to this end, that we should know the author of them, and give him thanks for his tender kindness toward us. Where is thy thanks giving, if thou so gluttonously fill thy self with dainty meats or with wine, that thou either be made senseless, or unfit to do the duties of godliness and of thy calling? Where is the reknowledging of God, if thy flesh by to great abundance boiling in filthy lust, doth with her uncleanness infect thy mind, that thou canst not see any thing that is right or honest? In apparel, where is thankfulness to God, if with costly gorgeousness thereof we both fall in admiration of our selves and disdain other? If with the trimness and cleanliness of it, we prepare our selves to unchastity? Where is the reknowledging of God, if our mind be fixed upon the gayness of our apparel? For many so give all their senses to bodily delights, that the mind lieth overwhelmed. Many are so delighted with marble, gold, and paintings, that they become as it were men made of marble, that they be as it were turned into metals, and be like unto painted Images. The smell of the kitchen, or sweetness of •avours so dulleth some, that they can smell nothing that is spiritual. ⟨p. 171⟩And the same is also to be seen in the rest. Therefore it is certain that hereby the licentiousness of abusing is somewhat restrained, and that rule of Paul confirmed,¹ that we be not to careful of the flesh, for the lusts thereof, to which if we grant to much, they boil out above measure and temper.

Therfore away with that vnnaturall Philosophie, whiche in graū ting vs of ye creatures no vse but for necessitie, not only doth niggardly bereue vs of the lawfull vse of Gods liberalitie, but also can not take place, vnlesse it first haue spoiled mā of al his senses & made him a blok. But on the other side we must with no lesse diligence prouide a stay for the lust of ye fleshe, whiche if it be not brought into order, ouerfloweth without measure: & it hath (as I haue said) defēders of it, which vnder pretense of allowed libertie do graunt vnto it all thinges. First there is one bridle put in the mouth of it, if this be determined, that all thinges are created for vs to this end, that we should know the authour of thē, and geue him thankes for his tender kindnesse toward vs. Where is thy thankes geuing, if thou so gluttonously fill thy selfe with deintye meates or with wyne, that thou either be made senslesse, or vnfit to do the duties of godlinesse and of thy callyng? Where is the reknowledging of God, yf thy fleshe by to great abundance boilynge in fylthye luste, dothe with her vncleannesse infecte thy mynde, that thou canste not see any thing that is ryght or honest? In apparel, where is thankfulnesse to God, yf with costlye gorgiousnesse thereof we bothe fall in admiration of our selues and disdayne other? If with the trymnesse and cleanlynesse of it, we prepare our selues to vnchastitie? Where is the reknowledging of God, if our mynde be fixed vpon the gaynesse of our apparell? For manye so geue all their senses to bodelye delytes, that the mynde lyeth ouerwhelmed. Many are so delited with marble, gold, and payntinges, that they become as it were menne made of marble, that they bee as it were turned into metalles, and bee lyke vnto paynted Images. The smelle of the kytchen, or swetenesse of auours so dulleth some, that they can smell nothyng that is spiritual.