The Institution of Christian Religion

But we do grant, that so long as we wander from home in this world, our faith is not fully expressed, not only because many things are yet hidden from us, but because being compassed with many mists of errors, we attain not all things. For the highest wisdom of the most perfect is this, to profit more and proceed on further forward with gentle willingness to learn.¹ Therefore Paul exhorteth the faithful, if upon any thing they differ one from an other, to abide for revelation. And truly experience teacheth, that till we be unclothed of our flesh, we attain to know less than were to be wished, and daily in reading we light upon many dark places which do convince us of ignorance. And with this bridle God holdeth us in modesty, assigning to every one a measure of faith, that even the very best teacher may be ready to learn. And notable examples of this unexpressed faith, we may mark in the Disciples of Christ, before that they had obtained to be fully enlightened. We see, how they hardly tasted the very first introductions, how they did stick even in the smallest points, how they hanging at the mouth of their master did not yet much proceed, yea when at the women's information they ran to the grave, the Resurrection of their master was like a dream unto them. Sith Christ did before bear witness of their faith, we may not say that they were utterly without faith: but rather, if they dad not been persuaded that Christ should rise again, all care of him would have perished in them. For it was not superstition that did draw the women to embalm with spices the corps of a dead man of whom there was no hope of life: but although they believed his words whom they knew to be a speaker of trueth, yet the grossness that still possessed their minds so wrapped their faith in darkness, that they were in a manner amazed at it. Whereupon it is said, that they then at the last believed when they had by trial of the thing it self proved the trueth of the words of Christ: not that they then began to believe, but because the seed of hidden faith which was as it were dead in their hearts, then receiving liveliness, did spring up.

But we do graunt, that so longe as we wander from home in thys worlde, oure faith is not fully expressed, not onely bicause many things are yet hidden from vs, but bicause being compassed with many mistes of erroures, wee atteine not all thinges. For the hyghest wysedome of the moste perfect is thys, to profite more and proceede on further forwarde with gentill willingnesse to learne.