The Institution of Christian Religion

If we were persuaded of this, which ought to be out of all controversy, that our nature wanteth all that, which our heavenly father giveth to his elect by the spirit of regeneration, then here were no matter to doubt upon. For thus speaketh the faithful people in the Prophet:¹ For with thee is the fountain of life, and in thy light we shall see light. The Apostle testifieth the same thing, when he sayeth that no man can call Jesus the lord, but in the holy ghost. And John Baptist seeing the dullness of his disciples, crieth out, that no man can receive any thing, unless it be given him from above. And that he meaneth by Gift a special illumination, and not a common gift of nature, appeareth hereby, that he complaineth that in so many words as he had spoken to tommende Christ to his Disciples, he prevailed nothing. I see (sayeth he) that words are nothing to inform mens minds concerning divine things, unless the Lord give understanding by his spirit. Yea and Moses, when he reproacheth the people with their forgetfulness, yet noteth this withal, that they can by no means grow wise in the mysteries of God, but by the benefit of God.² Thine eyes (sayeth he) have seen those great tokens and wonders, and the Lord hath not given thee a heart to understand, nor ears to hear, nor eyes to see. What should he express more, if he called us blocks in considering the works of God? Whereupon the Lord by the Prophet promiseth for a great grace,³ that he will give the Israelites a heart, that they may know him: signifying thereby, that mans wit is only so much spiritually wise, as it is lightened by him. And this Christ plainly confirmed with his own mouth,⁴ when he sayeth that no man can come to him, but he to whom it shall be given from the Father. What? is not he him self the lively Image of the Father, in whom the whole brightness of his glory is expressed unto us? Therefore he could not better show what our power is to know god, than when he sayeth, that we have no eyes to see his Image, where it is so openly set present before us. What? Came he not into the earth for this purpose, to declare his Fathers will unto men? And did he not faithfully do his office? Yes surely. But yet nothing is wrought by his preaching, unless the inward Schoolmaster, the holy ghost, set open the way to our minds.