The Institution of Christian Religion

The first of these considerations tendeth to this end, that he may know what is his duty: and the other, how much he is able to do toward the performing of it. We will entreat of them both, as the order of teaching shall require.

The fyrste of these considerations tendeth to thys ende, that hee maye knowe what is hys duety: and the other, howe muche he is able to do towarde the perfourminge of yt. We wyll entreate of them bothe, as the ordre of teachinge shall requyre.

But because it must needs be that it was not a light negligence,§4 but a detestable wicked act which God so severally punished, we must consider the very form of the same in the fall of Adam, that kindled the horrible vengeance of God upon all mankind. It is a childish opinion that hath commonly been received, concerning the intemperance of gluttony, as though the sum and head of all virtues consisted in the forbearing of one only fruit, when there flowed on every side store of all sorts of dainties that were to be desired, and when in that blessed fruitfulness of the earth, th•re was not only plenty, but also variety to make for pleasure. Therefore we must look further, because the forbidding him […] the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, was the trial of obedience, that Adam in obeying might prove that he was willingly ••• ject to the government of God. And the name of the tree it self shew•••, that the commandment was given for none other end, than for […] ⟨image 82⟩he contented with his own estate, should not with wicked lust adueuree himself higher. But the promise whereby he was bidden to hope for eternal life, so long as he did not eat of the tree of life, and again the horrible threatening of death so soon as he should taste of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, served to prove and exercise his faith. Hereof it is not hard to gather by what means Adam provoked the wrath of God against him self. Augustine in deed sayeth not amiss, when he sayeth, that pride was the beginning of all evils. For if ambition had not lifted up man higher than was lawful and than was permitted him, he might have continued in his estate: but we must fetch a more full definition from the manner of the tentation that Moses describeth. For sith the woman was with the deceit of the Serpent led away by infidelity, now it appeareth that disobedience was the beginning of the fall.