The Institution of Christian Religion

We see that it needeth no long or laboursome demonstration, to fetch out testimonies, to serve for the glorious declaration and proof of gods majesty: for by these few that we have touched it appeareth, that which way soever a man chance to look, they are so common & ready that they may be easily marked with eye, & pointed out with the finger. And here again is to be noted, that we are called to the knowledge of god, not such as contented with vain speculation, doth but fly about in the brain, but such as shall be sound and fruitful, if it be rightly conceived and take root in our hearts. For the Lord is declared by his powers, the force whereof because we feel within us, and do enjoy the benefits of them, it must needs be that we be inwardly moved much more lively with such a knowledge, then if we should imagine God to be such a one, of whom we should have no feeling. Whereby we understand, that this is the rightest way and fittest order to seek God, not to attempt to enter deeply with presumptuous curiosity, throughly to discuss his substance, which is rather to be reverently worshipped than scrupulously searched, but rather to behold him in his works, by which he maketh him self near and familiar, and doth in a manner communicate him self unto us. And this the apostle meant when he said,¹ that God is not to be sought afar of, forasmuch as he with his most present power dwelleth within every one of us. Wherefore David having before confessed his unspeakable greatness, when he descendeth to the particular rehearsal of his works, protesteth that the same will show forth it self. Therefore we also ought to give our selves unto such a searching out of God, as may so hold our wit suspended with admiration, that it may therewithal throughly move us with effectual feeling.² And, as Augustine teacheth in an other place, because we are not able to conceive him, it behoveth us as it were fainting under the burden of his greatness, to look unto his works, that we may be refreshed with his goodness.

We see that it needeth no long or laboursom demonstration, to fetche out testimonies, to serue for the glorious declaration and profe of gods maiestie: for by these few that we haue touched it appeareth, that which way soeuer a man chance to looke, they are so cōmon & ready that they may be easily marked with eye, & pointed out with the fynger. And here again is to be noted, that we ar called to the knowledge of god, not such as contented with vayne speculation, doth but flye about in the brayne, but suche as shall be sounde and fruitfull, yf it be rightly conceyued and take roote in our heartes. For the Lorde is declared by his powers, the force wherof because we fele within vs, and doo enioy the benefites of them, it muste nedes be that we be inwardly moued muche more liuely with suche a knowledge, then if we shoulde imagine God to bee suche a one, of whome we shulde haue no feelyng. Whereby we vnderstande, that this is the rightest waye and fittest order to seeke God, not to attempt to entre depely with presumptuous curiositie, throughely to discusse his substance, whiche is rather to be reuerently woorshipped than scrupulousely searched, but rather to behold hym in his workes, by whiche he maketh hym selfe nere and familiar, and doothe in a maner communicate hym selfe vnto vs. And this the apostle mente when he sayd,