The Institution of Christian Religion

This thing surely the truth of God appointeth to be sought in examining of our selves, I mean, it requireth such a knowledge as may both call us away from all confidence of our own power, & making us destitute of all matter to glory upon, may bring us to submission. Which rule it behoveth us to keep, if we will attain to the true mark both of right knowledge & welldoing. Neither yet am I ignorant how much more pleasant is that other opinion that allureth us rather to consider our good things, than to look upon our miserable neediness and dishonour, which ought to overwhelm us with shame. For there is nothing that mans nature more coveteth, than to be stroked with flattery: and therefore when he heareth the gifts that are in him to be magnified, he leaneth to that side with overmuch lightness of belief: whereby it is so much less to be marvelled, that herein the greatest part of men have perniciously erred. For sith there is naturally planted in all mortal men a more than blind love of them selves, they do most willingly persuade themselves, that there is nothing in them that they ought worthily to hate. So without any maintenance of other, this most vain opinion doth each where get credit, that man is abundantly sufficient of him self to make him self live well and blessedly. But if there be any that are content to think more modestly, how soever they grant somewhat to God, lest they should seem arrogantly to take all to them selves, yet they so part it, that the principal matter of glory and confidence alway remaineth with them selves. Now if there come talk, that with her allurements tickleth the pride that already of it self itcheth within the bones, there is nothing that may more delight them. Therefore as any hath with his extolling most favourably advanced the excellency of mans nature, so hath he been accepted with the well liking reioisement in manner of all ages. But what soever such commendation there be of mans excellency that teacheth man to rest in him self, it doth nothing but delight with that her sweetness, and in deed so deceiveth, that it bringeth to most wretched destruction all them that assent unto it.

This thinge surely ye truth of God appointeth to be sought in examinynge of oure selues, I meane, it requyreth suche a knowledge as maie bothe call vs away frō all confidence of oure owne power, & making vs destitute of al matter to glory vpon, may bringe vs to submission. Whiche rule it behoueth vs to keepe, if we wyll attaine to the true marke bothe of right knowledge & welldoinge. Neyther yet am I ignoraunt howe muche more pleasant is that other opinion yt allureth vs rather to consider oure good thinges, than to loke vpon oure miserable nedynesse and dishonore, whiche ought to ouerwhelme vs with shame. For ther is nothynge that mans nature more coueteth, than to be stroked with flattery: and therfore when he heareth the giftes that are in hym to be magusyed, he leaneth to that syde wyth ouermuche lyghtnes of belefe: whereby it is so muche lesse to be maruelled, that herein the greatest parte of men haue perniciously erred. For sith ther is naturally planted in all mortall menne a more than blynde loue of them selues, they do moste willingly perswade themselues, that there is nothinge in them that they ought woorthyly to hate. So wythout any maintenance of other, this moste vaine opinion dothe eche where gett credit, that man is aboundantly sufficient of hym selfe to make hym selfe liue well and blessedlye. But if there be any that are contente to thinke more modestly, howe soeuer they graunt somewhat to God, leaste they shoulde seeme arrogantly to take all to them selues, yet they so parte it, that the principall matter of glorye and confidence alway remayneth with them selues. Nowe if there come talke, that with her allurementes tickeleth ye pride that already of it selfe itcheth within the bones, ther is nothinge that may more delite them. Therefore as any hath with his extollinge moste fouourably aduaunced the excellency of mans nature, so hathe he been accepted with the well lykynge reioisement in manner of all ages. But what soeuer suche commendacion there be of mans excellency that teacheth man to reste in him selfe, it dothe nothinge but delyte with that her swetenesse, and in dede so deceyueth, that it bryngeth to moste wretched destruction all them that assent vnto it.