The Institution of Christian Religion

That which is now somewhat darkly touched, shall in expounding §9of the commandments become very plain by practise, wherefore it sufficeth to have touched it, saving that this last point, is to be shortly confirmed with some proof thereof, because otherwise either it should not be understanded, or being understand, it might perhaps at the beginning seem to sound like an absurdity. This needeth no proof, that when a good thing is commanded, the evil is forbidden that is contrary to it: for there is no man but he will grant it me. And common judgement will not much stick to admit, that when evil things are forbidden, the contrary duties are commanded. It is an universal opinion that virtues are commended, when the contrary vices are condemned. But we require somewhat more than those forms of speech do signify commonly among the people. For they for the most part take the virtue contrary to any vice, to be the abstaining from the same vice: we say that it proceedeth farther, that is to contrary duties & doings. Therefore in this commandment, Thou shalt not kill, the common sense of men will consider nothing ells, but that we must abstain from all hurt doing, or lust to do hurt. I say that there is further contained, that we should by all the helps that we may, succour the life of our neighbour. And, lest I speak without a reason, I prove it thus: God forbiddeth that our brother be hurt or misused, because he willeth that our neighbour's life be dear & precious unto us: he doth therefore require withal those duties of love that may be done by us for the preservation of it. And so may we see how the end of the commandment doth alway disclose unto us all that we are therein commanded or forbidden to do.

That whiche is now somwhat darkely touched, shal in expounding §9of the commaundementes become very plaine by practise, wherfore yt suffyseth to haue touched it, sauing that this last pointe, is to be shortly confirmed with some profe thereof, bicause otherwise either it sholde not bee vnderstanded, or beinge vnderstande, it might parhappes at the beginninge seeme to sounde lyke an absurditie. Thys needeth no profe, that when a good thing is commaunded, the euell is forbidden yt is contrarie to it: for ther is no man but he will graunt it me. And common iudgemente will not much sticke to admitte, that when euell thinges are forbidden, the contrarie dueties are commaunded. It is an vniuersall opinion that vertues are commended, when the contrarie vices are condemned. But we require somwhat more than those formes of speache do signifie commonly amonge the people. For thei for the moste part take the vertue contrary to any vice, to be the absteining from the same vice: we say yt it procedeth farther, yt is to contrarie duties & doinges. Therfore in this commaundement, Thou shalt not kyll, the common sense of men will consider nothing ells, but that we must absteine from all hurt doing, or lust to do hurte. I say that there is further conteined, yt we shold by all ye helpes that we may, succoure the life of oure neigheboure. And, leaste I speake without a reason, I proue it thus: God forbiddeth yt our brother be hurte or missused, bicause he willeth yt our neighebours life be deare & precious vnto vs: he doth therfore require withall those dueties of loue that may be done by vs for the preseruatiō of it. And so may we see how ye ende of ye cōmaundement doth alwai disclose vnto vs al yt we are therin cōmaunded or forbiddē to do.