The Institution of Christian Religion

Now is to be declared what mans reason seeth, when it cometh §18to the kingdom of God and to that spiritual insight, which consisteth chiefly in three things: to know God, and his fatherly favour toward us, wherein our salvation standeth: and the way to frame our life according to the rule of his law. Both in the first two & in the second, properly they that are most witty, are blinder than molls. I deny not that there be here and there read in Philosophers, concerning God, many things well and aptly spoken, but yet such as do alway savour of a certain giddy imagination. The Lord gave them in deed, as is above said, a little taste of his godhead, that they should not pretend ignorance to colour their ungodliness: and many times he moved them to speak many things by confession whereof them selves might be convinced: But they so saw the things that they saw, that by such seeing they were not directed to the trueth, much less did attain unto it, like as a wayfaring man in the middest of the field, for a sudden moment, seeth fair and wide the glistering of lightning in the night time, but with such a quickly vanishing sight, that he is sooner covered again with the darkness of the night, than he can stir his foot, so far is it of that he can be brought into his way by such a help. Beside that, those small drops of truth, wherewith, as it were by chance, they sprinkle their books, with how many and how monstrous lies are they defiled? Finally, they never so much as smelled, that assuredness of Gods good will toward us, without which mans wit must needs be filled with infinity confusion. Therefore mans reason neither approacheth, nor goeth toward, nor ones directeth sight unto this trueth, to understand who is the true god, or what a one he will be toward us.

Now is to be declared what mans reason seeth, when it commeth §18to the kyngedome of God and to that spirituall insight, whyche consysteth chyefely in three thynges: to knowe God, and hys fatherly fanoure towarde vs, wherein oure saluation standeth: and the waye to frame oure lyfe accordynge to the rule of hys lawe. Bothe in the first two & in ye seconde, proprely thei that are most wytty, are blinder than molles. I denye not that there bee here and there readde in Phylosophers, concerninge God, many thynges well and aptely spoken, but yet suche as dooe alwaye sauoure of a certayne gyddy ymagynation. The Lorde gaue them in deede, as ys aboue sayde, a lyttle taste of his godheade, that they should not pretende ignoraunce to coloure their vngodlynesse: and many tymes he moued them to speake many thynges by confession wherof them selues myght be conuinced: But thei so sawe the thynges that they sawe, that by suche seynge they were not directed to the trueth, muche lesse did attaine vnto it, lyke as a wayfaringe man in the myddest of the feylde, for a sodayne momente, seeth faire and wyde the glysterynge of lyghtninge in the night time, but wyth suche a quickely vanishinge sight, that he is soner couered againe with the darkenesse of the night, than he can stirre his foote, so farre is it of that he canne be brought into his way by such a helpe. Besyde that, those smale droppes of truthe, wherwyth, as it were by chaunce, they sprincle their bokes, with howe many and howe monstruous lyes are they defyled? Fynally, thei neuer so muche as smelled, that assurednesse of Gods good will towarde vs, without whiche mans witte muste nedes be filled with infinitie confusion. Therefore mans reason neither approcheth, nor goeth towarde, nor ones directeth syghte vnto thys trueth, to vnderstande whoe is the true god, or what a one he will be towarde vs.