The Institution of Christian Religion

But I am here constrained to repeat that, which in the beginning of this Chapter I speak by way of preface. As any man is most discouraged and thrown down with conscience of his own misery, neediness, nakedness and shame, so hath he best profited in knowledge of himself. For there is no danger to be feared, lest man will take to much from himself, so that he learn, that what he wanteth is to be recovered in God, but to him self he can take nothing more than his own right, be it never so little, but that he shall destroy him self with vain confidence, and conveying the honour of God to him self, become guilty of heinous sacrilege. And truly, so oft as this lust invadeth our mind, that we desire to have some what of our own, which may rest in our selves rather than in God, let us know that this thought is ministered us by no other counsellor, butte by him that persuaded our first parents, to have a will to be like unto Gods, knowing both good and evil. If it be the word of the devil that raiseth up man in him self, let us give no place unto it, unless we lift to take counsel of our enemy. It is pleasant in deed, for a man to have so much strength of his own, that he may rest in him self. Butte that we be not allured to this vain affiance, let so many sore sentences make us afraid, by which we be thrown down:¹ as are, Cursed is he which trusteth in ⟨p. 10⟩in man and setteth flesh to be his arm. Again, that God hath not pleasure in the strength of a horse,² neither delighteth in the legs of man, but delighteth in them that fear him, and attend upon his mercy.³ Again, that it is he which giveth strength unto him that fainteth, and unto him that hath no strength, he increaseth power, even the young men shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall stumble and fall, butte they that wait, upon the Lord, shall renew their strength. All which sayings tend to this end, that we lean not upon any opinion of our own strength, be it never so little, if we mean to have God favourable unto us,⁴ which resisteth the proud, & giveth grace to the humble. And then again, let these promises come into our remembrance. I will pour out water upon the thirsty,