The Institution of Christian Religion

I grant in deed, that some of the Prophets have an elegant clear yea and a beautiful phrase of speech, so as their eloquence giveth not place to the profane writers: and by such examples it pleased the holy ghost to show that he wanted not eloquence, though in the rest he used a rude and gross stile. But whether a man read David, Isaiah, and such like, who have a sweet and pleasant flowing speech, or Amos the herdsman, Jeremiah and zachary, whose rougher talk savoureth of country rudeness: in every one of them shall appear that majesty of the holy ghost that I spake of. Yet am I not ignorant, that as Satan is in many things a counterfeiter of God, that with deceitful resemblance he might the better crepe into simple mens minds: so hath he craftily spread abroad with rude and in manner barbarous speech, those wicked errors wherewith he deceived silly men, and hath oft times used discontinued phrases,¹ that under such visor he might hide his deceits. But how vain and uncleanly is that curious counterfeiting, all men that have but mean understanding do plainly see. As for the holy scripture, although froward men labour to byte at many things, yet is it full of such sentences as could not be conceived by man. Let all the prophets be looked upon, there shall not one be found among them, but he hath far excelled all mans capacity, in such sort that those are to be thought to have no judgement of taste to whom their doctrine is unsavoury.

I graunt in deede, that som of the Prophetes haue an elegant cleare yea and a beautifull phrase of speeche, so as their eloquence geueth not place to the prophane writers: and by suche examples it pleased the holy ghost to shewe that he wanted not eloquence, though in the reste he vsed a rude and grosse stile. But whether a man reade Dauid, Esaie, and such lyke, who haue a swete and pleasant flowyng speche, or Amos the heardman, Hieremie and zacharye, whose rougher talke sauoureth of countrey rudenesse: in euery one of theim shall appeare that maiestie of the holy ghoste that I spake of. Yet am I not ignorant, that as Sathan is in many thynges a counterfaiter of God, that with deceitfull resemblance he myght the better crepe into simple mens myndes: so hath he craftily spreade abroade with rude and in maner barbarous speche, those wicked errours wherwith he deceyued sely men, and hath ofte tymes vsed discontinued phrases,¹