The Institution of Christian Religion

Unless we have this assurance, which is both more excellent and of more force than any judgement of man. in vain shall the authority of Scripture either be strengthened with arguments, or stablished with consent of the church, or confirmed with any other means of defence. For unless this foundation be laid, it still remaineth hanging in doubt. As on the other side when exempting it from the common state of things, we have embraced it devoutly and according to the worthiness of it: then these things become very fit helps, which before were but of small force to graft and fasten the assurance thereof in our minds. For it is marvellous, how great establishment groweth hereof, when with earnest study we consider how orderly and well framed a disposition of the divine wisdom appeareth therein, how heavenly a doctrine in every place of it, and nothing savouring of earthliness, how beautiful an agreement of all the parts among them selves, and such other things as avail to procure a majesty to writings. But more perfectly are our hearts confirmed when we consider, how we are even violently carried to an admiration of it rather with dignity of matter, than with grace of words. For this also was not done without the singular providence of God, that the high mysteries of the heavenly kingdom should for the most part be uttered under a contemptible baseness of words, least if it had ben beautified with more glorious speech the wicked should cavil that the only force of eloquence doeth reign therein. But when that rough and in a manner rude simplicity doeth raise up a greater reverence of it self than any rhetoricians eloquence, what may we judge, but that there is a more mighty strength of truth in the holy Scripture, than that it needeth any art of words? Not without cause therefore the Apostle maketh his argument, to prove that the faith of the Corinthians was grounded upon the power of God,¹ and not upon mans wisdom, because his preaching among them was set forth not with enticing speech of mans wisdom, but in plain evidence of the spirit and of power. For the truth is then set free from all doubting, when not upholden by foreign aides it self alone sufficeth to sustain it self.

VNlesse we haue this assuraunce, whiche is bothe more excellent and of more force than any iudgement of man. in vayne shall the authorytie of Scripture eyther bee strengthened with argumentes, or stablished with consente of the churche, or confyrmed with any other meanes of defence. For vnlesse this fundation bee layde, it still remayneth hangynge in doubte. As on the other syde when exemptynge it from the common state of thynges, we haue embraced it deuoutely and accordyng to the worthynesse of it: then these thynges become very fitte helpes, which before were but of small force to graffe and fasten the assurance therof in our myndes. For it is meruaylous, howe greate establishemente groweth herof, when with earnest studye we consider howe orderly and well framed a disposition of the diuine wisedom appereth therin, howe heauenly a doctrine in euery place of it, and nothyng sauoryng of earthlynesse, howe beautyful an agreement of all the partes amonge theym selues, and suche other thynges as auayle to procure a maiestie to writynges. But more perfectly are oure hartes confirmed when we consyder, howe we are euen violently caried to an admiration of it rather with dignitie of matter, than with grace of woords. For this also was not done without the singular prouidence of God, that the hye misteries of the heauenly kingdome should for the moste part be vttered vnder a contemptible basenesse of words, least if it hadde ben beautified with more glorious speache the wicked shoulde cauill that the onely force of eloquence doeth reigne therein. But when that roughe and in a maner rude simplicitie dooeth rayse vp a greater reuerence of it selfe than any rhetoricians eloquence, what may we iudge, but that there is a more myghty strength of truthe in the holye Scripture, than that it nedeth any art of wordes? Not withoute cause therefore the Apostle maketh his argument, to proue that the faythe of the Corinthians was grounded vpon the power of God,