The Institution of Christian Religion

But with how great brightness soever God doth in the mirror §10of his works show by representation both himself and his immortal kingdom: yet such is our gross blockishness, that we stand dully amazed at so plain testimonies, so that they pass away from us without profit. For, as touching the frame and most beautiful placing of the world, how many a one is there of us, that when he either lifteth up his eyes to heaven, or casteth them about on the divers countries of the earth, doth direct his mind to remembrance of the creator, and doth not rather rest in beholding the works without having regard of the workman? But as touching those things that daily happen beside the order of natural course, how many a one is there that doth not more think that men are rather whirled about, and rolled by blind ⟨p. 10⟩unadvisedness of fortune, than governed by providence of God. But if at any time we be by the guiding and direction of these things driven to the consideration of God (as all men must needs be) ere so soon as we have without advisement conceived a feeling of some godhead, we by and by slide away to the dotages or erroneous inventions of our flesh, and with our vanity we corrupt the pure verity of God. So herein in deed we differ one from an other, that every man privately by him self procureth to him self some peculiar error: but in this point we all are most like together, that we all, not one excepted, do depart from the one true God to monstrous trifles. To which disease not only common and gross wits are subject, but also the most excellent and those that otherwise are endowed with singular sharpness of understanding, are entangled with it. Howe largely hath the whole sect of philosophers bewrayed their own dullness and beastly ignorance in this behalf? For, to pass over all the rest, which are much more unreasonably foolish. Plato himself the most religious and most sober of all the rest, vainly erreth in his round globe. Now what might not chance to the other, when the chief of them, whose part was to give light to the rest, do themselves so err and stumble?

But with howe great bryghtnesse soeuer God doothe in the myrrour §10of his woorkes shewe by representation bothe hymselfe and his immortall kyngedome: yet suche is oure grosse blockysshenesse, that we stande dully amased at so playne testimonies, so that they passe awaye from vs without profyte. For, as touchynge the frame and most beautyfull placynge of the worlde, howe many a one is there of vs, that when he eyther lyfteth vp his eyes to heauen, or casteth them about on the diuers countreys of the earth, doothe directe his mynde to remembraunce of the creatour, and doothe not rather rest in beholdynge the woorkes withoute hauynge regarde of the woorkemanne? But as touchynge those thynges that dayely happen besyde the order of naturall course, howe manye a one is there that dooth not more thynke that menne are rather whyrled aboute, and rowlled by blynde