The Institution of Christian Religion

The .iiii. Chapter. That the same knowledge is either choked, or corrupted, partly by ignorance, and partly by malice.

The .iiii. Chapter. That thesame knowledge is either choked, or corrupted, partly by ignoraunce, and partly by malice.

But as experience teacheth that God hath sown the seed of religion in all men, so scarcely may be found the hundred man that having it conceived in his hart doth cherish it, but no man in whom it ripeneth, so far is it of that any fruit appeareth in due time. Therefore whether it be that some become vain in their own superstitions, or that some do of set purpose maliciously revolt from God, yet all do• ⟨image 13⟩run out of kind from the true knowledge of him. So cometh it to pass that there remaineth no true godliness in the world. But where as I said that some by error fall into superstition, I mean not thereby as though their simplicity might excuse them from blame, because the blindness that they have, is commonly alway mingled both with proud vanity, and with stubbornness. Vanity and the same joined with pride appeareth in this, that they miserable men both in the seeking of God do not climb above them selves as they ought to have done, but measure him according to the proportion of their own fleshly dullness▪ and also neglecting the perfect manner of searching for him, do curiously fly to vain speculations. And so they conceive him not such a one as he offereth him self, but do imagine him such a one as of their own rash presumption they have forged him. Which gulf being ones opened, what way soever they stir their feet, they must needs alway run headlong into destruction. For what soever afterward they go about toward the worshipping or service of god, they can not account it done to him, because they worship not him, but rather the devise of their own heart,¹ and their own dream in stead of him. This perverseness do the Paul expressly touch, where he saith: That they were made fools when they coveted to be wise. He had before said, that they were made vain in their imaginations: but least any man should thereby excuse them from blame, he addeth further, that they are worthily blinded, because not contented with sobriety, but presumptuously taking upon themselves more than they ought, they wilfully bring darkness upon them, yea with vain and froward pride do make them selves fools. Whereupon followeth, that their foolishness is not excusable, whereof the cause is not only vain curiosity, but also a greediness to know more than is mee for them, joined with a false confidence.