The Institution of Christian Religion

And in this kind we must learn, that the experience, ⟨image 306⟩of the grace of God, as well toward our selves as other, is no slender help to confirm the credit of his promises. I leave unrehearsed many places, where David setteth before himself the benefits of God for matter of confidence, because the readers of the Psalms shall commonly find them without seeking. This self same thing had Jacob before taught by his own example:¹ I am unworthy of all thy mercies, and of the truth which ye hast performed to thy servant. I with my staff have passed over this Jordan, & now I come fourth with two •andes. He allegeth in deed the promise, but not alone: but he also joineth the effect, that he may the more courageously in time to come trust that God will be the same toward him. For he is not like to mortal men, which are weary of their liberality, or whose ability is wasted: but he is to be weighed by his own nature,² as David wisely doth where he saith, Thou hast redeemed me, O God that speakest truth. After that he hath given to God the praises of his salvation, he addeth that he is a true speaker: because unless he were continually like himself, there could not be gathered of his benefits a sufficiently strong reason of affiance and calling upon him. But when we know that so oft as he helpeth us▪ he showeth an example and proof of his goodness, we need not to fear that our hope shall be put to shame or disappoint us.

And in thys kynde we muste learne, that the experience, ⟨image 306⟩of the grace of God, as wel towarde our selues as other, is no sclender helpe to confirme the credit of hys promises. I leaue vnrehearsed many places, where Dauid setteth before hymselfe the benefites of God for mater of confidence, because the reders of the Psalmes shal commonly fynde them without seking. This selfe same thing had Iacob before taught by hys own exāple:¹