The Institution of Christian Religion

Now as concerning secrete motions, that which Solomon speaketh of the hart of a king,¹ that it is bowed hither or thither as pleaseth God, extendeth surely to all mankind, and is as much in effect as if he had said: what soever we conceive in minds, is by the secret inspiration of God directed to his end. And truly if he did not work in the minds of men, it were not rightly said, that he taketh away the lip from the true speakers, and wisdom from aged men, that he taketh the hart from the Princes of the earth, that they may wander where is no beaten way.² And hereto belongeth that which we oft read, that men are fearful so far forth as their hearts be taken with his fear. So David went out of the camp of Saul and none was ware of it, because the sleep of God was come upon them all. But nothing can be desired to be more plainly spoken, than where he so oft pronounceth, that he blindeth the eyes of men, & striketh them with giddiness, that he maketh them drunk with the spirit of drowsiness, casteth them into madness, & hardeneth their harts. These things also many do refer to Sufferance, as if in forsaking the reprobate, he suffered them to be blinded by Satan. But that solution is to fond, forasmuch as the Holy ghost in plain words expresseth, that they are stricken with blindness & madness by the just judgment of God.³ It is said, that he hardened the hart of Pharaoh, also that he did make dull & strengthen it. Some do with an unsavoury cavillation mock out these phrases of speech, because where in an other place it is said, that Pharaoh did harden his own hart, there is his own will set for the cause of his hardening. As though these things did not very well agree together, although in divers manners, that man while he is moved in working by God, doeth also work himself. And I do turn back their objection against them selves. For, if to harden do signify but a bare Sufferance, then the very motion of obstinacy shall not be properly in Pharaoh. Now how weak and foolish were it so to expound, as if Pharaoh did only suffer him self to be hardened? Moreover the Scripture cutteth of all occasions from such cavillations. For God saith,⁴ I will hold his heart. So of the inhabitants of the land of Canaan Moses saith, that they went forth to battle, because the Lord had hardened their harts.