The Institution of Christian Religion

Therefore, man shall be said to have free will after this sort, not because he hath a free choice as well of good as of evil, but because he doth evil by Will, and not by compulsion. That is very well said: but to what purpose was it to garnish so small a matter with so proud a title? A goodly liberty forsooth, if man be not compelled to serve sin: so is he yet a willing servant that his will is holden fast bound with the setters of sin. Truly I do abhor striving about words wherewith the Church is vainly wearied: but I think that such words are with great religious carefulness to be taken heed of, which sound of any absurdity, specially where the error is hurtful. How few I pray you, are there, which when they hear that Free will is assigned to man, do not by and by conceive, that he is lord both of his own mind and will, and that he is able of him self to turn him self to whether part he will? But some one will say: this peril shall be taken away, if the people be diligently warned of the meaning of it. But rather forasmuch as the wit of man is naturally bent to falsity, he will sooner conceive an error out of one little word, than a truth out of a long tale. Of which thing we have a more certain experience in this very word, than is to be wished. For omitting that exposition of the old writers, all they in manner that came after, while they stick upon the natural signification of the word, have ben carried into a trust of them selves that bringeth them to destruction.

Therfore, man shalbe saide to haue free will after this sorte, not bycause he hath a free choise as well of good as of euell, but because he dothe euell by Wyll, and not by compulsion. That is very well saide: but to what purpose was yt to garnyshe so smale a matter wyth so proude a title? A goodly libertie forsooth, if man be not compelled to serue sinne: so is he yet a wyllynge seruaunte that hys wyll is holden fast bounde with the setters of sinne. Truely I do abhorre striuinge about woordes wherewith the Churche is vainely wearied: but I thinke that suche wordes are with greate religious carefulnes to be taken hede of, whiche sounde of any absurditie, specially wher the errour is hurtefull. How few I praye you, are there, whyche when they heare that Free wil is assigned to man, do not by and by conceaue, that he is lorde bothe of his owne mynde and wyll, and that he is able of hym selfe to turne hym selfe to whether parte he will? But some one wyll saye: this perill shalbe taken awaye, if the people be dylygentlye warned of the meaninge of it. But rather forasmuche as the witte of man is naturally bent to falsitie, he will soner conceiue an errour out of one little worde, than a truth out of a longe tale. Of whiche thing we haue a more certaine experience in this very worde, than is to be wished. For omittinge that exposition of the olde wryters, all thei in manner that came after, while thei sticke vpon the naturall signification of the woorde, haue ben carried into a truste of them selues that bringeth them to distruction.