The Institution of Christian Religion

In the mean time let it not be wearisome unto us, in this so beautiful a stage to take a godly delight of the manifest and ordinary works of God. For, as I have else where already said, though this be not the chief, yet is it in order the first doctrine of Faith, to remember that what way soever we turn our eyes, all that we see are the works of God, & with godly consideration to weigh for what end God did make them. Therefore that we may conceive by Faith so much as behoveth us to know of God, it is good first of all to learn the history of the creation of the world, how it is shortly rehearsed by Moses, and afterward more largely set out by holy men, specially by Basil and Ambrose. Out of it we shall learn that God by the power of his word and Spirit created heaven and earth of nothing, and thereof brought forth all living creatures and things without life, with marvellous order disposed the innumerable variety of things, to every thing he gave the proper nature, assigned their offices, appointed their places and abidings, and where all things are subject to corruption, yet hath he so provided that of all sorts some shall be preserved safe to the last day, and therefore some he cherisheth by secrete means, and poureth now and then as it were a new liveliness into them, and to some he hath given the power to increase by generation, that in their dying that whole kind should not die together. So hath he marvellously garnished the heaven and the earth, with so absolutely perfect plenty, variety & beauty of all things as possibly might be, as it were a large and gorgeous house furnished and stored with abundance of most finely chosen stuff, last of all how in framing man and adorning him with so godly beauty, and with so many and so great gifts, he hath showed in him the most excellent example of all his works. But because it is not my purpose at this present to set forth at large the creation of the world, let it suffice to have ones again touched these few things by the way. For it is better, as I have already warned the readers, to fetch a fuller understanding of this matter out of Moses and other, that have faithfully and diligently conveyed the history of the world by writing to perpetual memory.

In the meane time let it not be werisom vnto vs, in this so beautiful a stage to take a godly delight of the manifest and ordinary woorkes of God. For, as I haue els where already said, though this be not ye chefe, yet is it in order the first doctrine of Faith, to remember that what way soeuer we turne our eyes, al that we see are the workes of God, & wyth godly consideration to wey for what end God did make thē. Therefore that we may conceiue by Faith so muche as behoueth vs to knowe of God, it is good first of al to learne the history of the creation of ye world, how it is shortly rehearsed by Moses, and afterwarde more largely set out by holy men, specially by Basile and Ambrose. Oute of it we shall learne that God by the power of his worde and Spirite created heauē and earth of nothing, and therof brought forth all liuing creatures and thinges without lyfe, with maruellous order disposed the innumerable varietie of things, to euery thīg he gaue ye propre nature, assigned their offices, appointed their places and abidinges, and where all things are subiecte to corruption, yet hath he so prouided that of all sortes some shalbe preserued safe to the last day, and therfore some he cherysheth by secrete meanes, and poureth now and then as it were a new liuelinesse into them, and to some he hath geuen the power to encrease by generation, that in their dying that whole kinde should not die together. So hath he maruellously garnished the heauen and the earth, with so absolutely perfect plentie, varietie & beauty of al thinges as possibly might be, as it were a large and gorgeous house furnished and stored wyth aboundaunce of most finely chosē stuffe, last of all how in framing man and adorning him with so godly beautie, and with so many and so great giftes, he hath shewed in him the most excellent exāple of al his works. But because it is not my purpose at this present to set forth at large the creation of the worlde, let it suffice to haue ones agayne touched these few thinges by the way. For it is better, as I haue already warned the readers, to fetche a fuller vnderstanding of this matter oute of Moses and other, that haue faithfully and diligently conueied the history of the world by writing to perpetuall memory.