The Institution of Christian Religion

And because he doth not certainly know what success the business will have that he goeth about, (saving that in all things he knoweth that the Lord will provide for his benefit) he will with study travail to that which he shall think expedient for him self, so far as he can conceive in mind & understanding. And yet in taking of counsels he will not be carried on by his own wit, but will commit & yield himself to the wisdom of God, that by the guiding thereof he may be directed to the right end. But his confidence shall not so stay upon outward helps, that if he have them he will carelessly rest upon them, or if he want them he will be afraid as left destitute, for he will have his mind alway fastened upon the Providence of God, neither will he suffer himself to be drawn away from the steadfast beholding thereof, by consideration of present things. So though Joab acknowledged that the success of battle is in the will and hand of God, yet he gave not himself to slothfulness but did diligently execute that which belonged to his calling, but he leaveth it unto the Lord to govern the end. We will stand valiant (saith he) for our nation, & for the cities of our God.¹ But the Lord do what is good in his eyes. This knowledge shall despoil us of rashness & wrongful confidence, & shall drive us to continual calling upon God: & also shall uphold our minds with good hope, so as we may not doubt assuredly and boldly to despise those dangers that compass us about.

And because he doth not certaynly know what successe ye businesse wil haue that he goeth about, (sauing yt in al thynges he knoweth that the Lord wil prouide for hys benefyte) he wil wyth study trauaile to yt which he shal thynke expedyent for hym selfe, so far as he cā cōceiue in mynde & vnderstanding. And yet in takyng of counsels he wil not be caried on by hys own wyt, but wyl cōmit & yeld hymselfe to ye wisdom of God, that by the guiding therof he may be directed to ye ryght end. But hys confydence shal not so stay vpon outward helpes, yt if he haue them he wyl carelesly rest vpon them, or if he want them he wil be afraied as lefte destitute, for he wyl haue hys mynde alway fastened vpō the Prouydence of God, neyther wyll he suffer hymselfe to be drawē away frō the stedfast beholdyng therof, by consideration of present thynges. So though Ioab acknowledged that ye successe of battail is in the wil and hand of God, yet he gaue not hymselfe to slouthfulnesse but did diligētly execute yt whych belonged to hys callyng, but he leaueth it vnto ye Lord to gouerne ye end. We wil stand valiant (saith he) for our natiō, & for the cities of our God.