The Institution of Christian Religion

Sith we have seen, that the dominion of sin, sins the time that it held the first man bound unto it, doth not only reign in all mankind, but also wholly possesseth every soul: now must we more nearly examine, sins we are brought into that bondage, whether we be spoiled of all freedom or no: And if yet there remain any parcel, how far the force thereof proceedeth. But to the end that the trueth of this question may more easily appear unto us, I will by the way set up a mark, where unto the whole sum may be directed. And this shall be the best way to avoid error, if the dangers be considered that are like to fall on both sides. For when man is put from all uprightness, by and by he thereby taketh occasion of slothfulness: •nd because it is said, that by himself he can do nothing to the study of righteousness, fourth with he neglecteth it wholly, as if it ⟨p. 11⟩pertained nothing unto him. Again, he can presume to take nothing upon himself, be it never so little, but that bothe Gods honore shall bee thereby taken from him, and man himself be overthrown with rash confidence. Therefore, to the end we strike not upon these rocks, this course is to be kept, that man being informed that there remaineth in him no goodness, and being on every side compassed about with most miserable necessity may yet be taught to aspire to the goodness whereof he is void, and to the liberty whereof he is deprived, and may be more sharply stirred up from slothfulness, than if it were feigned that he is furnished with greatest power. Howe necessary this second point is, every man seeth. The first, I see, is doubted of by moe than it ought to be. For this being set out of controversy, it ought then plainly to stand for trueth, that nothing is to be taken away from man of his own, so far as it behoveth that he be thrown down from false boasting of him self. For if it were not granted to man to glory in himself even at that time when by the bountifulness of God he was garnished with most singular ornaments, how much ought he now to be humbled, sith for his unthankfulness he is thrust down from high glory into extreme shame?

SYthe we haue seen, that ye dominion of sinne, sins ye tyme that it helde ye firste man bounde vnto it, doothe not onely reigne in all mankinde, but also wholy possesseth euerye soule: nowe muste we more nerely examine, sins we are broughte into that bondage, whether we be spoyled of all freedome or no: And yf yet there remayne any parcell, howe farre the force thereof procedeth. But to the ende that the trueth of this question maye more easyly appeare vnto vs, I wyll by the waye sette vp a marke, where vnto the whole summe maye bee dyrected. And thys shalbe the best waye to auoyde erroure, if the daungers be considered that are lyke to fall on boothe sides. For when man ys putte from all vpryghtnesse, by and by he thereby taketh occasion of slouthfullnesse: nd bicause it is saide, that by hymselfe he canne dooe nothinge to the studye of righteousnesse, fourth with hee neglecteth yt wholly, as if yt