The Institution of Christian Religion

And because they should not be able to blame God, they find all the evil in themselves, and in him nothing but a lawful use of their evilness. But he worketh by them. And whence I pray you, cometh the stink in a dead carrion, which hath ben both rotted and disclosed by heat of the sun? All men do see that it is raised by the beams of the sun. Yet no man doth therefore say, that the sunbeams do stink. So when there resteth in an evil man, the matter and guiltiness of evil, what cause is there why it should be thought that God is any thing defiled with it, if he use their service at his pleasure. Away therefore with this doggish frowardness, which may in deed afar of bark at the justice of God, but can not touch it.

And because they should not be able to blame God, they fynde all the euill in themselues, and in hym nothyng but a lawful vse of their euilnesse. But he worketh by them. And whēce I pray you, commeth the stinke in a dead carrion, which hath ben boeth rotted and disclosed by heate of the sunne? All men doo see that it is raised by the beames of the sunne. Yet no man dooth therefore saie, that the sunbeames doo stinke. So whē there resteth in an euil man, ye matter and gyltinesse of euyll, what cause is there why it should be thought that God is any thyng defiled with it, if he vse their seruice at his pleasure. Away therfore with this doggishe frowardnesse, whiche maye in dede afarre of barke at the iustice of God, but can not touche it.

But these cavillations or rather doting errors of phrenetike men, shall easily be shaken away, by godly and holy meditation of the Providence, which the rule of godliness teacheth us, so that thereof may grow unto us a good and most pleasant fruit. Therefore a Christian hart when it is most assuredly persuaded, that all things come to pass by the disposition of God, and that nothing happeneth by chance, will alway bend his eyes to him as to the principal cause of things, and yet will consider the inferior causes in their place. Then he will not ⟨p. 64⟩doubt that the singular Providence of God doeth watch for his preservation, which Providence will suffer nothing to happen, but that which shall turn to his good and salvation. And because he hath to do first of all with men, & then with the other creatures, he will assure him self that Gods Providence doth reign in both. As touching men, whether they be good or evil, he will acknowledge that all their counsels, wills, enterprises and powers are under the hand of God, so that it is in Gods will to bow them whether he list, and to restrain them so oft as pleaseth him. That the singular Providence of God doeth keep watch for the safety of the faithful, there are many & most evident promises to witness.