The Institution of Christian Religion

I Mean by the knowledge of God, not only that knowledge whereby we conceive that there is some God, but also that, whereby we learn so much as behoveth us to know of him, and is profitable for his glory, finally so much as is expedient. For, to speak properly, we cannot say that God is known where there is no religion nor godliness. But here I do not yet touch that special kind of knowledge whereby those men that are in themselves reprobate and accursed do conceive God the redeemer in Christ the mediator: but I speak only of that first and simple manner of knowledge, whereunto the very order of nature would have led us, if Adam had continued in state of innocency. For although no man, sith mankind is in this ruin, can perceive God to be either a father, or author of salvation, or in any wise favourable, unless Christ come as a mean to pacify him toward us: yet it is one thing to feel that God our maker doth by his power sustain us, by his providence govern us, by his goodness nourish us, and endue us with all kinds of blessings: and an other thing to embrace the grace of reconciliation offered us in Christ. Whereas therefore the Lord first simply appeareth as well by the making of the world, as by the general doctrine of the Scripture, to be the Creator, and then in the face of Christ to be the redeemer: here upon arise two sorts of knowing him, of which the former is now to be entreated of, and then the other shall orderly follow in the place fit for it. For although our mind cannot conceive the knowledge of God, but that it must give to him some kind of worship, yet shall it not be sufficient simply to know that it is he only that ought to be honoured and worshipped of all men, unless we be also persuaded that he is the fountain of all good things, to the end that we should seek for nothing else where but in him. I