The Institution of Christian Religion

But (some man will say) the faithful do find by experience a far other thing within themselves which in recording the grace of God toward them, are not only tempted with unquietness, which oftentimes chanceth unto them, but also are sometime shaken with most grievous terrors: so great is the vehemency of temptations to throw down their minds: which thing seemeth not sufficiently well to agree with that assuredness of faith. Therefore this doubt must be answered, if we will have our aforesaid doctrine to stand. But truly, when we teach that faith ought to be certain and assured, we do not imagine such a certainty as is touched with no doubting, nor such an assuredness as is assailed with no carefulness: but rather we say, that the faithful have a perpetual strife with their own distrustfulness. So far be we from settling their consciences in such a peaceable quietness, as may be interrupted with no troubles at all yet on the other side we say, that in what sort so ever they be afflicted, they do never fall and depart from that assured confidence which they have conceived of the mercy of God. The Scripture setteth forth no example of faith more plain, or more notable than in David,¹ specially if a man behold the whole continual course of his life. But yet how he was not alway of quiet mind, himself declareth by innumerable complaints, of which at this time it shall be sufficient do choose out a few. When he reproacheth his own soul with troublesome motions, what is it else but that he is angry with his own unbelievingness? Why tremblest thou my soul (saith he) and why art thou disquieted within me? trust in God. And truly that same discouragement was a plain token of destruction, even as if he thought himself to be forsaken of God. And in an other place we read a larger confession thereof,² where he saith: I said in my overthrow, I am cast out from the sight of thy eyes. Also in an other place he disputeth with himself in careful and miserable perplexity, yea & quarreleth of the very nature of God, saying: Hath God forgotten to have mercy? will he caste of for ever? And yet harder is that which followeth:³ But I have said, To die is mine: charges are of the right hand of the hiest.

But (some man will say) the faithfull doe finde by experience a far other thing within themselues whiche in recordyng the grace of God toward them, are not only tempted with vnquietnesse, whiche oftentimes chaunceth vnto them, but also are sometime shaken with most greuous terrors: so great is the vehemencye of temptations to throw downe their mindes: which thing semeth not sufficiently wel to agree with that assurednesse of fayth. Therefore this doubt must be answered, if we will haue our aforesayde doctrine to stande. But truely, when we teache that fayth ought to be certayne and assured, we doe not imagine suche a certaintie as is touched with no doubtynge, nor suche an assurednesse as is assayled with no carefulnesse: but rather we saye, that the faythfull haue a perpetuall stryfe with their owne distrustfulnesse. So farre be we from setlynge their consciences in such a peasable quietnesse, as maye be interrupted with no troubles at all yet on the other side we saye, that in what sorte so euer they bee afflicted, they doe neuer fall and departe from that assured confidence whiche they haue conceyued of the mercie of God. The Scripture setteth forth no example of fayth more playne, or more notable than in Dauid,