The Institution of Christian Religion

The want of understanding, he proveth by Apostasy or departing from God, whom to seek is the first degree of wisdom. But that want must needs happen to them that are fallen away from God. He sayeth further, that all are gone out of the way and become as it were rotten, that there is none that doeth good, and then he adjoineth the heinous faults, wherewith they defile their members that are ones let lose into wickedness. Last of all he testifieth that they are void of the fear of God, after whose rule our steppes should have ben directed. If these be the inheritable gifts of mankind▪ it is in vain to seek for any good thing in our nature. In deed I grant that not all these faults do appear every man: yet can not be denied that this Hydra lurketh in the hearts of all men. For as the body while it already fostereth enclosed within it, the cause and matter of disease, although the pain be not yet vehement, can not be called healthy: no more can the soul be reckoned sound, while it swarmeth full of such diseases of vices, albeit the similitude doth not agree in all points. For in the body be it never so much diseased, there remaineth a quickness of life: but the soul being drowned in this gulf of destruction, is not only trouble with vices, but also altogether void of all goodness.

The wante of vnderstandynge, he proueth by Apostasie or departyng from God, whome to seeke is the firste degree of wisedome. But that wante muste nedes happen to them that are fallen awaye from God. He sayeth further, that all are gone out of the waye and become as it were rotten, that there is none that doeth good, and then he adioyneth the haynous faultes, wherewith they defile their members that are ones let lose into wickednesse. Laste of all he testifieth that they are voyde of the feare of God, after whose rule our steppes shoulde haue ben directed. If these bee the inheritable gyftes of mankynde▪ it is in vayne to seeke for anye good thyng in our nature. In deede I graunt that not all these faultes doe appeare euery manne: yet can not bee denied that this Hydra lurketh in the heartes of all menne. For as the bodye whyle it already fostreth enclosed wythin it, the cause and matter of disease, although the payne bee not yet vehement, canne not bee called healthy: no more canne the soule bee reckened sounde, whyle it swarmeth full of suche diseases of vices, albeit the similitude dothe not agree in all pointes. For in the bodye be it neuer so muche diseased, there remayneth a quicknesse of lyfe: but the soule beyng drowned in this gulfe of destruction, is not only trouble wyth vices, but also altogether voyde of all goodnesse.