The Institution of Christian Religion

Paul, to refrain us from recompensing of injuries doth wisely put us in mind,¹ that we are not to wrestle with flesh and blood, but with the spiritual enemy the devil, that we may prepare our selves to strive with him. But this is the most profitable lesson for the appeasing of all rages of wrath, that God doth arm as well the devil as all wicked men to strive with us, and that he sitteth as judge to exercise our patience.² But if the misfortunes and miseries that oppress us, do chance without the work of men, let us remember the doctrine of the law: whatsoever is prosperous floweth from the fountain of gods blessing, and that all adversities are his cursings: and let the most terrible warning make us afraid: If ye walk stubbornly against me, I will also walk stubbornly against you. In which is rebuked our sluggishness, when according to the common sense of the flesh accounting all to be but chance that happeneth, of both sorts we are nether encouraged by the benefits of God to worship him,³ nor pricked forward with his scourges to repentance. This same is the reason, why Jeremiah & Amos did so sharply rebuke the Jews, because they thought that things as well good as evil came to pass without the commandment of God. To the same purpose serveth that sermon of Isaiah. I the God that create light and fashion darkness, that make peace and create evil. I God do make all these things.

Paule, to refraine vs from recompensing of iniuries doth wisely put vs in minde,¹ that we are not to wrastle with fleshe and bloud, but with the spiritual enemy the deuil, that we may prepare our selues to striue with him. But thys is the most profitable lesson for the appeasyng of al rages of wrath, yt God doth arme as wel the deuill as al wicked men to stryue wt vs, and yt he sitteth as iudge to exercise oure patience.² But if ye misfortunes and miseries yt oppresse vs, doe chaunce without ye worke of men, let vs remēber the doctrine of ye law: whatsoeuer is prosperous floweth from the fountayne of gods blessing, and yt al aduersities are his cursinges: and let ye most terrible warning make vs afraid: If ye walke stubbornly against me, I wil also walke stubbornly agaynst you. In which is rebuked our sluggishnesse, when according to ye commō sense of ye flesh accompting al to be but chaūce yt happeneth, of both sortes we are nether encouraged by ye benefites of God to worship him,