The Institution of Christian Religion

Yea and he stretcheth that name even to a woman in the ninth chapter of the Acts. Wherefore if faith do swerve never so little from this mark, to which it ought to be directly levelled, it keepeth not her own nature, butte becometh an uncertain lightness of belief and wandering error of mind. The same Word is the foundation wherewith faith is upholden & sustained, from which if it swerve, it falleth down. Therefore take away the Word, & then there shall remain no faith. We do not here dispute whether the ministry of man be necessary to sow the word of God that faith may be conceived thereby, which question we will else where entreat of: but we say that the word it self, howsoever it be conveyed to us, is like a mirror when faith may behold God. Whether God doth therein use the service of man, or work it by his own only power, yet he doth alway show him self by his word to those, whom his will is to draw unto him: whereupon Paul defineth faith to be an obedience that is given to the Gospel.¹ Rom. i. And in an other place he praiseth the obedience of faith in the Philippians.² For this is not the only purpose in the understanding of faith, that we know that there is a God, but this also, yea this chiefly, that we understand what will he beareth toward us. For it not so much behoveth us to know what he is in himself, but what a one he will be to us. Now therefore we are come to this point, that faith is a knowledge of the will of God, perceived by his word. And the foundation hereof is a foreconceived persuasion of the truth of God. Of the assuredness whereof so long as thy mind shall dispute with it self, the word shall be but of doubtful and weak credit, yea rather no credit at all. But also it sufficeth not to believe that God is a true speaker, which can neither deceive nor lie, unless thou further hold this for undoubtedly determined, that whatsoever proceedeth from him, is the sacred and inviolable truth.

Yea and he stretcheth that name euen to a woman in the ninthe chapiter of the Actes. Wherefore if faith do swerue neuer so little from this marke, to which it ought to be directly leuelled, it kepeth not her owne nature, butte becometh an vncertaine lightnesse of belefe and wandring erroure of mynde. The same Worde is the foundation wherwith faith is vpholden & susteined, from which if it swarue, it falleth downe. Therfore take awaie ye Worde, & then there shal remaine no faith. We do not here dispute whether the ministerie of man be necessarie to sowe the worde of God that faithe may be conceiued thereby, which question we will els where entreate of: but we saie that the worde it self, howesoeuer it be conueied to vs, is like a mirroure when faith may beholde God. Whether God dothe therein vse the seruice of man, or worke it by his owne onely power, yet he doth alwaie shewe him selfe by his worde to those, whome his will is to drawe vnto him: wherevpon Paule defineth faithe to be an obedience that is geuen to the Gospell.