A17662:332
The Institution of Christian Religion
The institution of Christian religion, written in Latin by master John Calvin, and translated into English according to the authors last edition. Seen and allowed according to the order appointed in the Queens majesties injunctionsThe institution of Christian religion, vvrytten in Latine by maister Ihon Caluin, and translated into Englysh according to the authors last edition. Seen and allowed according to the order appointed in the Quenes maiesties iniunctions
London: printed by Reinolde Wolfe & Richard Harison, 1561London: printed by Reinolde VVolfe & Richarde Harison, 1561
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Now the first of these two sons willeth that which God willeth not, and the other son willeth that which God also willeth, and yet the naturalness of the first son doeth better agree with the will of God, although he willeth a contrary thing, than the unnaturalness of the other son that willeth the same thing. So great a difference is there what to will doeth belong to man, and what to God, and to what end the will of every one is to be applied, to have it either allowed or disallowed. For those things which God willeth well he ⟨p. 70⟩bringeth to pass by the evil wills of evil men. But a little before he had said, that the Angels apostates in their falling away, and all the reprobate, in as much as concerneth them selves, did that which God would not, but in respect of the omnipotency of God, they could by no means so do,1 because while they did against the will of God, the will of God was done upon them. Whereupon he crieth out: Great are the works of God, & ought to be sought out of all them that love them: that in marvellous manner the same thing is not done without his will which is also done against his will, because it could not be done if he did not suffer it: and yet he doeth it not against his will, but willingly: and he being good, would not suffer a thing to be done evil, unless for that he is omnipotent, he could of evil make good.
Nowe the fyrst of these two sonnes wylleth that whyche God willeth not, and the other sonne willeth that whyche God also willeth, and yet the naturalnesse of the first sonne doeth better agree with the will of God, although he willeth a contrary thing, than the vnnaturalnesse of the other sonne that willeth the same thyng. So great a difference is there what to wyll doeth belong to man, and what to God, and to what ende the will of euery one is to be applied, to haue it either allowed or disalowed. For those thynges whiche God willeth well he ⟨p. 70⟩bringeth to passe by the euill wylles of euyl men. But a littel before he had said, that the Angels apostataes in their fallyng away, and all the reprobate, in as muche as concerneth theim selues, did that which God would not, but in respecte of the omnipotencie of God, they coulde by no meanes so do,