The Institution of Christian Religion

And yet this act, how much soever it was evil, and worthy of blame, was not without faith, for it was necessary that she should overcome many offences, that she might so earnestly endeavour to attain that which without hope of earthly profit was full of great troubles & dangers. As we may not say that the holy Patriarch Isaac was altogether without faith, because he being by the same oracle of God admonished of the honour transferred to the younger son, yet ceased not to be more favourably bent to his first begotten son Esau. Truly these examples do teach, that oftentimes errors are mingled with faith: but yet so that faith if it be a true faith, hath alway the upper hand. For as the particular error of Rebecca did not make void the effect of the blessing, so neither did it make void her faith which generally reigned in her mind, and was the beginning and cause of that doing. Nevertheless therein Rebecca uttered how ready mans mind is to fall so soon as he giveth him self never so little liberty. But though mans defect and weakness doth darken faith, yet it doth not quench it: in the mean time it putteth us in mind, how carefully we ought to hang upon the mouth of God, and also confirmeth that which we have taught, that faith vanisheth away, unless it be upholden by the word: as the minds both of Sarah, and Isaac and Rebecca had become vain in their crooked ⟨p. 122⟩wanderings out of the way, unless they had ben by Gods secret bridle holden in obedience of the word.

And yet thys acte, howe muche soeuer it was euell, and woorthy of blame, was not without faith, for it was necessarie that she sholde ouercome many offenses, that shee might so earnestly endeuoure to atteine that whiche without hope of earthly profite was ful of greate troubles & daungers. As wee may not say that the holy Patriarche Isaac was altogether without faithe, bicause he beinge by the same oracle of God admonished of the honoure transferred to the yonger sonne, yet cessed not to bee more fauourably bente to hys fyrste begotten sonne Esau. Truely these examples do teache, that oftetimes erroures are mingled with faithe: but yet so that faith if it be a true faith, hath alwaie the vpper hande. For as the particular erroure of Rebecca did not make void the effect of the blessing, so neither did it make voide her faith whyche generally reigned in her mynde, and was the beginning and cause of that doynge. Neuerthelesse therein Rebecca vttered howe readye mans mynde is to fall so sone as he geueth hym selfe neuer so lyttle lybertie. But thoughe mans defaut and weakenesse dothe darken faith, yet it doth not quenche it: in the meane time it putteth vs in minde, how carefully wee oughte to hange vpon the mouthe of God, and also confyrmeth that whyche wee haue taughte, that faythe vanysheth awaye, vnlesse yt bee vpholden by the woorde: as the myndes boothe of Sara, and Isaac and Rebecca hadde become vaine in theyr croked