The Institution of Christian Religion

Whosoever shall be framed to this modesty, they neither for the time §3paste will murmur against God for their adversities, nor lay upon him the blame of wicked doings, as Agamemnon in Homer did, saying, I am not the cause, but Jupiter and Destiny: nor yet again as carried away with Destinies, they will by desperation throw them selves into destruction, as that young man in Plautus which said: Unitable is the chance of things: the Destinies drive men at their pleasure, I will get me to some rock there to make an end of my goods and life together. Neither yet (as an other did) they will pretend the name of God to cover their own mischievous doings: for so saith Lyconides in an other comedy: God was the mover. I believe it was the will of the gods: for if it had not ben their will, I know it should not so come to pass. But rather they will search and learn out of the Scripture what pleaseth God, that by the guiding of the Holy ghost they may travail to attain thereunto. And also being ready to follow God, whether soever he calleth, they show in deed that nothing is more profitable then the knowledge of his doctrine. Very foolishly do profane men turmoil with their fondnesses, so that they in manner confound heaven & earth together as the saying is: If God have marked the point of our death, we can not escape it: then it is labour vainly lost in taking heed to our selves. Therefore where as one man dareth not venture to go the way that he heareth to be dangerous, least he be murdered of thieves: an other sendeth for Physicians, and wearieth himself with medicines to succour his life: an other forbeareth gross meats for fear of appeiryng his feeble health: an other dreadeth to dwell in a ruinous house: Finally where as men devise all ways and endeavour with all diligence of mind whereby they may attain that which they desire: either all these remedies are vain, which are sought, as to reform the will of God, or ells life and death, health and sickness, peace and war, and other things, which men as they covet or hate them, do by their travail endeavour to obtain or escape, are not determined by his certain decree.

Whosoeuer shalbe framed to this modestie, they neyther for the time §3paste wil murmure against God for their aduersities, nor lay vpon him the blame of wicked dooynges, as Agamemnon in Homer dyd, saying, I am not the cause, but Iupiter and Destenie: nor yet agayn as caried awaie with Destenies, they wil by desperation throwe them selues into destruction, as that yong man in Plautus whiche saide: Unitable is the chaunce of thynges: the Destenies driue men at their pleasure, I will get me to some rocke there to make an ende of my goodes and life togither. Neither yet (as an other did) they will pretende the name of God to couer their owne mischeuous dooynges: for so saith Lyconides in an other comedie: God was the mouer. I beleeue it was the will of the gods: for if it had not ben their will, I knowe it should not so come to passe. But rather they will searche and learne out of the Scripture what pleaseth God, that by the guiding of the Holy ghost they may trauayle to atteyne thervnto. And also beyng ready to folowe God, whether soeuer he calleth, they shewe in dede that nothyng is more profitable then the knowledge of his doctrine. Uery foolishly doo prophane men turmoile with their fondnesses, so that thei in maner cōfound heauen & earthe together as the saying is: If God haue marked the point of our death, we can not escape it: then it is laboure vainely loste in takyng hede to our selues. Therfore where as one man dareth not venture to go the way that he heareth to bee daungerous, least he be murthered of theues: an other sendeth for Phisitians, and werieth himselfe with medicines to succour his life: an other forbeareth grosse meates for feare of appeiryng his feble healthe: an other dreadeth to dwell in a ruinous house: Finally where as men deuise all waies and endeuour with all diligence of mynde wherby they may atteyne that whiche they desire: either all these remedies are vaine, whiche are sought, as to reforme the will of God, or ells life and death, health and sicknesse, peace and warre, and other thyngs, whiche men as they couete or hate them, doo by their trauaile endeuour to obteyne or escape, are not determined by his certain decree.