The Institution of Christian Religion

Let this be the sun of all. So soon as any drop of faith, be it never so small, is poured into our hearts, we by and by begin to behold the face of God mild and pleasant and loving toward us: yet the same we see from a far of, and far distant from us, but with so sure sight, that we know we are not deceived. From thence forward, how much we profit (as we ought continually to profit) as it were by proceeding further, we come unto so much the nearer, and therefore certainer beholding of him, and by very continuance he is made more familiar unto us. So we see, that the mind enlightened with the knowledge of God, is first holden wrapped in much ignorance, which by little and little is wiped away. Yet the same mind is not so hindered by being ignorant of some things, or by darkly seeing that which she seeth, but that she enjoyeth a clear knowledge of gods will toward her, which is the first and principal point in faith. For as if a man being shut up in prison, have beams of the sun shining in, sidelong at a narrow window, or as it were but half glimmering, he wanteth in deed the free beholding of the sun, yet he seeth with his eyes an undoubted brightness thereof, and receiveth the use of it: so we being •ounde with the fetters of an earthly body, how so ever we be on each side shadowed with much darkness, yet we are sufficiently enlightened unto perfect assuredness, by the light of God, extending his beams of light upon us, though it be but a little, to show forth his mercy.

Let this be the sunnne of all. So sone as any droppe of fayth, be it neuer so small, is poured into our heartes, we by and by beginne to beholde the face of God milde and pleasant and louyng towarde vs: yet the same we see from a farre of, and far distant from vs, but with so sure sight, that we know we are not deceiued. Frō thense forward, howe muche we profit (as we ought continually to profit) as it were by procedyng further, we come vnto so much the nerer, and therfore certainer beholdyng of him, and by very continuance he is made more familiar vnto vs. So we see, that the minde enlightened with the knowledge of God, is first holden wrapped in much ignorance, which by litle and litle is wyped awaye. Yet the same minde is not so hindered by beyng ignorāt of some thinges, or by darkly seyng that which she seeth, but that she enioyeth a clere knowledge of gods wil toward her, which is the first and principal point in fayth. For as if a man beyng shut vp in pryson, haue beames of the sunne shinyng in, sidelong at a narrowe windowe, or as it were but half glummeryng, he wanteth in deede the free beholdynge of the sunne, yet he seeth with his eyes an vndoubted brightnesse thereof, and receyueth the vse of it: so we beyng ounde with the fetters of an earthly body, howe so euer we be on eche side shadowed with muche darkenesse, yet we are sufficiently enlighened vnto perfect assurednesse, by the light of God, extendyng his beames of light vpon vs, though it be but a litle, to shew forth his mercie.