The Institution of Christian Religion

And yet in the mean time a godly man will not wink at the inferior §9causes. Nether will he, because he thinketh them the ministers of gods goodness by whom he hath received benefit, therefore let them pass unconsidered, as though they had deserved no thank by their gentleness: but he will heartily think himself bound unto them, and will willingly confess his bond, & travail as he shall be able and as occasion shall serve, to recompense it. Finally in benefits received he will reverence & praise God as the principal author, but he will honour men as the ministers, and as the truth is in deed he will understand that he is by the will of God bound to them, by whose hand it was gods will to be beneficial unto him. If he suffer any loss by negligence or want of foresight, he will determine in his mind that the same was done in deed with the will of God, but he will impute it also to himself. If any man be dead by sickness whom he hath negligently handled, whereas of duty he should have taken good heed unto him: although he be not ignorant that the man was come to his appointed time beyond which he could not pass, yet will he not thereby lessen his offence, but because he had not faithfully discharged his duty toward him, he will so take it as if he had perished by fault of his negligence. Much less when there is used any fraud, & conceived malice of mind in committing either murder or theft, will he excuse it under pretence of gods Providence, but he will in one self evil act severally behold both the righteousness of God and the wickedness of man, as both doth manifestly show themselves. But principally in things to come he will have consideration of such inferior causes. For he will reckon it among the blessings of God if he be not disappointed of the helps of men which he may use for his safety. And so he neither will be negligent in taking of counsel, nor slothful in craving their help whom he seeth to have sufficient whereof he may be succoured: but thinking that whatsoever creatures can any thing profit him, the same are offered into his hand by God, he will apply them to his use as the lawful instruments of gods Providence.

And yet in the meane time a godly man wil not winke at the inferior §9causes. Nether wil he, because he thinketh them the ministers of gods goodnesse bi whō he hath receiued benefite, therfore let them passe vnconsidered, as though they had deserued no thanke by their gētlenesse: but he wil hartily thynke hymselfe bounde vnto them, and wil willingly confesse hys bonde, & trauail as he shalbe able and as occasion shall serue, to recōpence it. Finally in benefites receyued he wyl reuerence & prayse God as the principal author, but he will honor men as ye ministers, and as ye truth is in dede he wil vnderstande yt he is by the wyll of God bounde to thē, by whoes hand it was gods wil to be benefitial vnto hym. If he suffer any losse by negligence or want of foresight, he wil determine in hys mind yt the same was done in dede wt the wil of God, but he wil impute it also to hymselfe. If any man be dead by sickenesse whō he hath negligently handled, wheras of duty he should haue taken good hede vnto him: although he be not ignoraunt yt the mā was come to his appoynted tyme beyond whych he could not passe, yet will he not therby lessen hys offense, but because he had not faythfully discharged hys duty towarde hym, he wil so take it as if he had perished by fault of hys neglygence. Much lesse when there is vsed any fraude, & conceiued malice of mynde in committing either murther or theft, wil he excuse it vnder pretēce of gods Prouidence, but he wil in one selfe euil act seuerally behold both ye righteousnesse of God and the wickednesse of man, as both doth manifestly shew thēselues. But principally in thynges to come he wil haue cōsideration of such inferior causes. For he wyl reckē it among the blessinges of God if he be not disappoynted of ye helpes of men which he may vse for hys safety. And so he neither wil be negligēt in takyng of counsell, nor slouthful in crauyng their helpe whō he seeth to haue sufficiēt wherof he may be succoured: but thinking yt whatsoeuer creatures can any thyng profyt him, ye same are offred into hys hand by God, he wil apply thē to hys vse as ye lawful instrumētes of gods Prouidence.