The Institution of Christian Religion

For the understanding thereof, it is needful to return to that division §18of the flesh and the spirit, whereof we made mention in an other place, which doth in this behalf most clearly appear. The godly heart therefore •eleth a division in it self, which is partly delighted with sweetness by acknowledging of the goodness of God, & partly grieved with bitterness by feeling of his own misery, partly resteth upon the promise of the Gospel, and partly trembleth by reason of the testimony of his own wickedness: partly rejoiceth with conceiving of life, and partly quaketh for fear of death. Which variation cometh by imperfection of faith, for as much as we never be in so good case in the course of this present life, as being healed from all disease of distrustfulness, to be altogether filled & possessed with faith. Hereupon proceed those battles, when the distrustfulness that abideth in the remnants of the flesh, riseth up to assail the faith that is inwardly conceived. But ⟨image 196⟩if in a faithful mind assuredness be mixed with doubtfulness, come we not then alway to this point, that faith standeth not in a certain and clear knowledge, but in a dark & doubtfully entangled knowledge of Gods will toward us? No, not so. For though we be diversly drawn with sundry thoughts, yet are we not therefore by and by severed from faith: though we be vexed with tossing up and down of distrustfulness, yet are we not therefore drowned in the bottomless depth thereof: and though we be shaken, yet be we not thrust▪ down out of our place. For this is alway the end of this battle, that faith doth at length with wrestling overcome those hard troubles, wherewith when she is so besieged, she seemeth to be in danger.

For the vnderstādyng therof, it is needeful to returne to that diuision §18of the fleshe and the spirit, wherof we made mention in an other place, which doth in this behalf most clearly appere. The godly heart therefore •eleth a diuisiō in it self, which is partly delited with swetenesse by acknowledging of ye goodnesse of God, & partly greued with bitternesse by felyng of his owne miserie, partly resteth vpon the promise of the Gospel, and partly trembleth by reason of the testimonie of his owne wickednesse: partly reioyseth with conceyuing of life, and partly quaketh for feare of death. Whyche variation cōmeth by imperfection of fayth, for as muche as we neuer be in so good case in the course of this present life, as beyng healed from all disease of distrustfulnesse, to be altogether filled & possessed wt faith. Hereupon procede those battels, whē the distrustfulnesse that abideth in the remnātes of the fleshe, riseth vp to assaile the faith that is inwardly conceiued. But