A17662:53
The Institution of Christian Religion
The institution of Christian religion, written in Latin by master John Calvin, and translated into English according to the authors last edition. Seen and allowed according to the order appointed in the Queens majesties injunctionsThe institution of Christian religion, vvrytten in Latine by maister Ihon Caluin, and translated into Englysh according to the authors last edition. Seen and allowed according to the order appointed in the Quenes maiesties iniunctions
London: printed by Reinolde Wolfe & Richard Harison, 1561London: printed by Reinolde VVolfe & Richarde Harison, 1561
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
¶ The .iii. Chapter. That the knowledge of God is naturally planted in the minds of men.
¶ The .iii. Chapter. That the knowledge of God is naturally planted in the myndes of men.
WE hold it out of controversy, that there is in the mind of man, even by natural instinction, a certain feeling of the godhead. For to the end that no man should flee to the pretence of ignorance, God himself hath planted in all men a certain understanding of his divine majesty: the remembrance whereof, with pouring in now and then as it were new drops, he continually reneweth: that when all, not one excepted, do know that there is a God, and that he is their maker, they may all be condemned by their own testimony, for that they have not both worshipped him, and dedicate their life to his will. But truly if the not knowing of God be any where to be found, it is likely that there can no where else be any example of it more than among the grossest sorts of peoples and furthest from civil order of humanity,1 But (as the heathen man saith) there is no nation so barbarous, no kind of people so savage, in whom resteth not this persuasion that there is a God. And even they that in other parts of their life, seem very little to differ from brute beasts, yet do continually keep a certain seed of religion. So throughly hath this common principle possessed all mens minds, and so fast it sticketh within all mens bowels. Sith then from the beginning of the world there hath ben no country, no city, yea no house that could be without religion, in this is implied a certain secrete confession that a feeling of the godhead is written in the hearts of all men. Yea and idolatry it self is a substantial proof of this persuasion. For we know how unwillingly man abaseth himself to honour other creatures above himself. Therefore when he had rather worship a block and a stone, than he would be thought to have no god: it appeareth that ⟨p. 4⟩imprinted persuasion of God is of most great force, which is so impossible to be raced out of the mind of man, that it is much more easy to have the affection of nature broken: as in deed it is broken, when man from his own natural swelling pride of his own will stoopeth down even to the basest creatures, to honour God.