The Institution of Christian Religion

At that time, I say, when he was advanced to the highest degree of honour, the Scripture attributeth nothing ells unto him, but that he was created after the image of God, whereby it secretly teacheth, that man was blessed, not by his own good things, but by the partaking of God. What therefore remaineth now, but that he being naked and destitute of all glory, do acknowledge God, to whose liberality he could not be thankful when he flowed full of the richesse of his grace; and that now at length with confession of his own poverty he glorify him, whom in the acknowledging of his good gifts, he did not glorify? Also it is as much our profit, that all praise of wisdom and strength be taken from us, as it pertaineth to the glory of God, that they join our ruin with the robbery of God, that give unto us any thing more, than that which is true. For what is else done when we are taught to •yght of our own force, but that we be lifted up on high on a staff of a reed, that it may by and by break, and we fall to the ground? Albeit, our forces are yet to much commended when they are compared to the staff of a reed. For it is but smoke all that vain men have imagined & do babble of them. Wherefore not without cause is this excellence sentence oft repeated by Augustine, that free will is rather thrown down headlong, than stablished by them that defend it. This I thought needful to speak before, as by way of preface for many mens sakes, which when they hear mans power overthrown from the ground, that the power of God may be builded in man do much hate this manner of disputing as dangerous▪ much more superfluous, which yet appeareth to be both in religion necessary, and for us most profitable.

At yt time, I say, when he was aduaunced to the hyghest degree of honoure, the Scripture attributeth nothynge ells vnto hym, but that he was created after the image of God, whereby it secretly teacheth, that man was blessed, not by his owne good thinges, but by the partakynge of God. What therefore remayneth nowe, but that he beyng naked and destitute of all glorye, do acknoweledge God, to whose liberalitie he coulde not be thankefull when he flowed full of the richesse of his grace; and that nowe at length wyth confession of hys owne pouertie he glorifie hym, whome in the acknoleging of his good gyftes, he dyd not gloryfye? Also it is as muche oure profyte, that all prayse of wysedome and strengthe be taken from vs, as yt pertayneth to the glorye of God, that thei ioyne oure ruine with the robberie of God, that geue vnto vs any thynge more, than that whyche ys true. For what is els done when wee are taught to yght of oure owne force, but that wee bee lyfted vp on hye on a staffe of a reede, that it maye by and by breake, and wee fall to the grounde? Albeit, oure forces are yet to muche cōmended when thei are compared to ye staffe of a reede. For it is but smoke all yt vaine men haue imagined & do babble of them. Wherfore not wtout cause is this excellence sentence ofte repeted by Augustine, yt free wil is rather throwē down hedlonge, than stablished by them yt defend it. This I thought nedeful to speake before, as by waie of preface for many mennes sakes, which whan thei heare mans power ouerthrowen frō ye grounde, yt the power of God may be builded in man do muche hate this manner of disputing as dangerous much more superfluus, whiche yet appeareth to be bothe in religion necessarie, and for vs moste profitable.