The Institution of Christian Religion

OF these things that have ben hitherto spoken, we plainly §1perceive how needy and void man is of all good things, and how he wanteth all helps of salvation. Wherefore if he seek for reliefs whereby he may succour his neediness, he must go out of himself and get them else where. This is afterward declared unto us, that the Lord doth of his own free will and liberally give himself to us in his Christ, in whom he offereth us in stead of our misery all felicity, in stead of our need wealthiness, in whom he openeth to us the heavenly treasures: that our whole faith should behold his beloved son, that upon him our whole expectation should hang, in him our whole hope should stick fast and rest. This verily is the secret and hidden Philosophy, which can not be wrong out with Logical arguments: but they learn it whose eyes God hath opened that they may see light in his light. But sins that we are taught by faith to acknowledge that what so ever we have need of, whatsoever wanteth in us, the same is in God and in our Lord Jesus Christ, namely in whom the Lord willed the whole fullness of his largess to rest, that from thence we should all draw as out of a most plentiful fountain: now it remaineth that we seek in him, and with prayers crave of him that which we have learned to be in him. Otherwise to know God to be the Lord and giver of all good things, which allureth us to pray to him: and not to go to him & pray to him: should so nothing profit us, that it should be alone as if a man should neglect a treasure showed him buried and digged in the ground. Therefore the Apostle, to show that true faith can not be idle from calling upon God, hath set this order: that as of the Gospel springeth faith, so by it our hearts are framed to call upon the name of God. And this is the same thing which he had a little before said,¹ that the Spirit of adoption, which sealeth in our hearts the witness of the Gospel, raiseth up our spirits that they dare show forth their desires to God, stir up unspeakable groanings, and cry with confidence Abba, Father. It is mete therefore that this last point, because it was before but only spoken of by the way and as it were lightly touched, should now be more largely entreated of.

OF these thinges that haue ben hetherto spoken, we plainely §1perceyue how needy and voyde mā is of al good things, and how he wanteth al helpes of saluation. Wherfore if he seke for relefes whereby he may succour his needinesse, he must goe out of himselfe and get them els where. This is afterward declared vnto vs, that the Lord doth of his owne free will and liberally geue himself to vs in his Christ, in whom he offreth vs in stede of our miserie all felicitie, in stede of our neede welthinesse, in whome he openeth to vs the heauenly treasures: that our whole faith should behold his beloued sonne, that vpon him our whole expectatiō should hang, in him our whole hope should sticke fast and reste. This verily is the secret and hidden Philosophie, whiche can not be wrong out with Logiciall argumentes: but they learne it whose eyes God hath opened that they may see light in his light. But sins that we are taught by fayth to acknowledge that what so euer we haue neede of, whatsoeuer wāteth in vs, the same is in God and in our Lord Iesus Christ, namely in whome the Lorde willed the whole fulnesse of his largesse to rest, that from thense we should all drawe as out of a most plentifull fountaine: now it remayneth that we seke in him, and with praiers craue of him that which we haue learned to be in him. Otherwise to know God to be the Lord and geuer of all good things, which allureth vs to pray to him: and not to goe to him & praye to him: shold so nothing profit vs, that it should be alone as if a man should neglect a treasure shewed him buried and digged in the ground. Therfore the Apostle, to shewe that true fayth can not be idle from callyng vpon God, hath set this order: that as of the Gospell spryngeth faith, so by it our heartes are framed to cal vpon the name of God. And this is the same thyng which he had a litle before sayd,