The Institution of Christian Religion

IT is sufficiently proved, as I think, that man is so holden captive with the yoke of Sin, that of his own nature he can neither aspire by desire, nor travail by endeavour to goodness, beside that, we have rehearsed a distinction between compulsion and necessity, whereby it might appear, that when he sinneth of necessity yet nevertheless he sinneth willingly. But forasmuch as while he is subject in bondage to the Devil, he seemeth rather to be led by the devils will than his own, it resteth now to be declared of what sort are both kinds of working. And then is this question to be assoiled, whether in evil works there be any thing to be attributed to God: in which the Scripture showeth that there is used some working of his. In one place Augustine compareth mans will to a horse, which is ready to be ruled by the will of his rider: and God and the Devil he compareth to riders. If God (saith he) sit upon it, he like a sober and conning rider, governeth it temperately, spurreth it forward if it be to slow, plucketh it back if it be to quick, restraineth the wantonness and wildness of it, tameth the stubbornness of it, and guideth it into the right way. But if the Devil have possessed it, he like a foolish and wanton rider, violently carrieth it through places where no way is, driveth it into ditches, rolleth it down steep places, spurreth it forward to stubbornness and fierceness: which similitude we will for this time be contented with, sith there cometh not a better in place. Where it is said that the will of a natural man is subject to the rule of the Devil, to be stirred by him, it is not meant thereby that man as it were striving against it, and resisting is compelled to obey, as we compel bondslaves against their will, by reason of being their lords, to do our commandments: but that being bewitched with the deceits of Satan, it of necessity yieldeth it self obedient to every leading of him. For whom the Lord vouchsafeth not to rule with his spirit, them by just judgement he sendeth away to be moved of Satan. Wherefore the Apostle saith,¹ that the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelievers ordained to destruction, that they should not see the light of the Gospel. And in an other place: That he worketh in the disobedient children.²

YT is sufficiently proued, as I thynke, that man is so holden captiue with the yoke of Sinne, that of his owne nature he can neyther aspire by desire, nor trauaile by endeuour to goodnesse, byside that, we haue rehersed a distinction betwene compulsion and necessitie, whereby it might appere, that when he sinneth of necessitie yet neuerthelesse he sinneth willingly. But for asmuch as while he is subiect in bondage to the Deuell, he semeth rather to be led by the deuels will than his owne, it resteth nowe to be declared of what sorte are bothe kindes of workyng. And then is this question to be assoiled, whether in euel workes there be any thing to be attributed to God: in whiche the Scripture sheweth that there is vsed some working of his. In one place Augustine compareth mans will to a horse, whiche is ready to be ruled by the will of his ryder: and God and the Deuell he compareth to ryders. If God (sayth he) sit vpon it, he like a sober and connyng rider, gouerneth it temperatly, spurreth it forwarde if it be to slowe, plucketh it backe if it be to quicke, restrayneth the wantonnesse and wildenesse of it, tameth the stubbornnesse of it, and guideth it into the right way. But if the Deuell haue possessed it, he like a foolish and wanton rider, violently carrieth it through places where no waye is, driueth it into diches, rolleth it downe steepe places, spurreth it forward to stubbornnesse and fearcenesse: which similitude we wil for this time be contē ted with, sithe there cometh not a better in place. Where it is sayde that the will of a naturall man is subiect to the rule of the Deuell, to be stirred by him, it is not mente thereby that man as it were striuing agaynst it, and resistyng is compelled to obeye, as we compell bondeslaues agaynst their wil, by reason of beyng their lordes, to do our cō maundementes: but that beyng bewitched with the deceites of Satan, it of necessitie yeldeth it selfe obedient to euery leadyng of him. For whome the Lord vouchesaueth not to rule with his spirite, them by iust iudgement he sendeth away to be moued of Satan. Wherfore the Apostle sayth,