The Institution of Christian Religion

But why God, in such as it were half commandments hath by ⟨image 128⟩§10figures rather secretly signified, than expressed what his will was, where as there are wont to be many reasons rendered thereof, this one reason pleaseth me above the rest. Because the flesh alway endeavoureth to extenuate the filthiness of sin, & to colour it with fair pretences, saving where it is even palpable for grossness, he hath set forth for an example in every kind of offence that which was most wicked and abominable, at the hearing whereof our very senses might be moved with horror, thereby to imprint in our minds a more heinous detesting of every sort of sin. This many times deceiveth us in weighing of vices, that if they be any thing secret, we make them seem small. These deceits the Lord doth disclose, when he accustometh us to refer all the whole multitude of vices to these principal heads, which do best of all show, how much every kind is abominable. As for example, wrath and hatred are not thought so heinous evils, when they are called by their own names, but when they are forbidden us under the name of man slaughter, we better understand how abominable they are before God, by whose word they are set in the degree of so horrible an offence: and we moved by his judgement, do accustom our selves better to weigh the heinousness of those faults that before seemed but light unto us.

But why God, in suche as it were halfe commaundements hath by ⟨image 128⟩§10figures rather secretli signified, than expressed what his wil was, wher as ther are wonte to be many reasons rendred thereof, this one reason pleaseth me aboue ye rest. Bicause ye flesh alway endeuoreth to extenuate the fylthinesse of sinne, & to coloure it with faire pretenses, sauinge where it is euen palpable for grossenesse, he hathe set forthe for an example in euery kinde of offence that whiche was moste wicked and abhominable, at the hearinge whereof oure very senses might be moued with horroure, therby to emprinte in oure myndes a more haynous detesting of euery sorte of sinne. This manie times deceiueth vs in weyinge of vices, yt if thei be any thinge secret, we make them seme small. These deceites the Lorde dothe disclose, when hee accustometh vs to referre al the whole multitude of vices to these principall heads, which do best of all shewe, how muche euery kinde is abhominable. As for example, wrathe and hatred are not thoughte so heynous euells, when thei are called by their owne names, but when they are forbidden vs vnder the name of man slaughter, we better vnderstande how abhominable they are before God, by whose worde they are set in the degree of so horrible an offence: and we moued by his iudgement, do accustome oure selues better to weye the haynousenesse of those faultes that before seemed but lyghte vnto vs.