The Institution of Christian Religion

Truly, that saying of Chrysostom hath alway exceedingly §11well pleased me, that the foundation of our Wisdom is humility: but yet more that saying of Augustine, As (sayeth he) that same Rhetorician being asked,¹ what was the first thing in the rules of eloquence, answered Pronunciation: and what was the second, he answered Pronunciation: and what was the third, he answered Pronunciation: so if one ask me of the rules of Christian religion, the First, the Second, and Third time, and always I would answer Humility. But he meaneth not humility, when a man knowing some little virtue to be in himself, abstaineth from pride and haughtiness of mind, butte when he truly feeleth him self to be such a one, as hath no refuge butte in humility:² as in an other place he declareth. Let no man (sayeth he) flatter him self: of his own he is a devil. That thing whereby he is blessed, he hath of God only. For what haste thou of thine own, butte sin? Take away from thee, sin which is thine own,³ for righteousness is Gods. Again, why is the possibility of nature so presumed on? It is wounded, maimed, troubled and lost, it needeth a true confession, and not a false defence. Again, when every man knoweth that in himself he is nothing, and of himself he hath no help, his weapons in him self are broken, the wars are ceased. But it is needful, that all the weapons of wickedness be broken in sunder, shivered in pieces and burnt, that thou remain unarmed & have no help in thy self. How much ⟨image 90⟩more weak thou art in thy self, so much the more the Lord receiveth thee. So upon the three score and ten Psalm he forbiddeth us to remember our own righteousness, that we may acknowledge the righteousness of God: and he showeth that God doeth so commend his grace unto us, that we may know our selves to be nothing, that we stand only by the mercy of God, when of our selves we are nothing but evil. Let us not therefore strive here with God for our right, as if that were withdrawn from our salvation which is given to him. For as our humbleness is his highness, so the confession of our humbleness hath his mercy ready for remedy. Neither yet do I require that mane not convinced should willingly yield himself: