The Institution of Christian Religion

But this danger we shall well beware of, if we do consider why God useth rather by them than by himself without their service to declare his power, to provide for the safety of the faithful, and to communicate the gifts of his liberality among them. Surely he doth not this of necessity, as though he could not be without them: for so oft as pleaseth him, he letteth them alone, and bringeth his work to pass with an only beck: so far is it of, that they be any aide to him, to ease him of the hardness thereof. This therefore maketh for the comfort of our weakness, so that we want nothing that may avail our minds, either in raising them up in good hope, or confirming them in assurance. This one thing ought to be enough and enough again for us, that the Lord affirmeth that he is our protector. But while we see our selves besieged with so many dangers, so many hurtful things, so many kinds of enemies: it may be (such is our weakness and frailty) that we be sometime filled with trembling fear, or fall for despair, onlesse the Lord after the proportion of our capacity do make us to conceive his presence. By this mean he not only promiseth that he will have care of us, but also that he hath an innumerable guard to whom he hath given in charge to travail for our safety, and that so long as we be compassed with the garrison and support of them, whatsoever danger betideth, we be without all reach of hurt. I grant we do amiss that after this simple promise of the protection of God alone, we still look about from whence other help may come unto us. But for as much as it pleaseth the Lord of his infinite clemency and gentleness to help this our fault,¹ there is no reason why we should neglect his so great benefit. An example thereof we have in the servant of Elisha, which when he saw the hill besieged with the army of the Syrians, & that there was no way open to escape, was stricken down with fear, as if his master and he were then utterly destroyed. Then Elisha prayed God to open his servants eyes, and by and by he saw the hill furnished with horses and fiery chariots, that is with a multitude of angels to keep him and the prophet safe.

But this daunger we shall well beware of, if we doo consyder why God vseth rather by them than by hymselfe without their seruice to declare his power, to prouide for the safetie of the faithfull, and to cōmumunicate the giftes of his liberalitie among them. Surely he doth not this of necessitie, as though he coulde not be without them: for so oft as pleaseth hym, he letteth theim alone, and bringeth his woorke to passe with an onely becke: so farre is it of, that they be any aide to hym, to ease hym of the hardnesse therof. This therfore maketh for the comforte of our weakenesse, so that we want nothyng that may auaile our myndes, eyther in raisyng them vp in good hope, or confirmyng them in assurance. This one thyng ought to be enough and enough agayn for vs, that the Lorde affirmeth that he is our protectour. But while we se our selues besieged with so many daūgers, so many hurtful thynges, so many kyndes of enemies: it may be (suche is our weakenesse and frailtie) that we be sometyme filled with tremblyng feare, or fall for despaire, onlesse the Lord after the proporcion of our capacitie do make vs to conceiue his presence. By this meane he not onely promiseth that he wyll haue care of vs, but also that he hath an innumerable garde to whom he hath geuen in charge to trauaile for our safetie, and that so longe as we be compassed with the garrison and supporte of theim, whatsoeuer daunger betideth, we be without all reache of hurte. I graunt we doo amisse that after this simple promise of the protection of God alone, we still looke about from whense other helpe maye come vnto vs. But for as muche as it pleaseth the Lorde of his infinite clemencie and gentilnesse to helpe this our fault,