The Institution of Christian Religion

Now for as much as by the condition of nature, and by lust more enkindled since the fall of man, we are become doubly subject to desire of company of women, except it be those whom God of his singular grace hath exempted from it: let every man look well what is given unto him. Virginity, I grant, is a virtue not to be despised: butte sith it is to some denied, and to some granted but for a time, let them that are troubled with incontinence and striving with it, can not get the upper hand, resort to the help of marriage, that so they may keep chastity in the degree of their vocation. For they that can not conceive this word, if they do not succour their own intemperance with the remedy that is offered and granted them, they strive against God and resist his ordinance. And let no man carp against me (as many do at this day) that being aided with the help of God, he can do all things.¹ For the help of God is present only with those, that walk in his ways, that in their vocation from which they do all withdraw them selves, which forsaking the helps of God, do travail to overcome and master their necessities with vain rash boldness. The Lord affirmeth that continence is a singular gift of God, and of that sort that are not given generally, nor universally to the whole body of the Church, but to a few members thereof. For first he saith, that there is a certain kind of men, that have gelded them selves for the kingdom of Heaven, that is, that they might the more loosely and freely apply them selves to the affairs of the heavenly kingdom. But, that no man should think that such gelding is in the power of man, he showed a little before, that all men are not able to receive it, butte they to whom it is peculiarly given from heaven,² whereupon he concludeth: He that can take it, let him take it. Butte Paul yet affirmeth it more plainly, where he writeth, that every man hath his proper gift of God, one thus, and an other thus.

Nowe for as muche as by the condition of nature, and by luste more enkyndled syns the fall of manne, wee are become doubtely subiecte to desire of companie of women, excepte it bee those whome God of hys singular grace hathe exempted from it: let euerye man loke well what is geuen vnto hym. Uirginitie, I graunt, is a vertue not to be despised: butte syth it is to some denied, and to some graunted but for a time, let them that are troubled with incontinence and striuinge wyth it, canne not gette the vpper hande, resorte to the helpe of mariage, that so they maye keepe chastitie in the degree of their vocation. For they that can not conceiue thys woorde, if they do not succoure their owne intemperance wyth the remedie that is offered and graunted them, thei stryue agaynste God and resyste his ordinaunce. And let no man carpe against mee (as many do at this daie) that being ayded with the helpe of God, hee canne do all thynges.