The Institution of Christian Religion

But this bare and outward declaration of the word of God, ought to have largely sufficed to make it be believed, if our own blindness and stubbornness did not withstand it. But our mind hath such an inclination to vanity, that it can never cleave fast unto the trueth of God, and hath such a dullness, that it is alway blind and can not see the light thereof. Therefore there is nothing availably done by the word without the enlightening of the holy ghost. Whereby also appeareth, that faith is far above mans understanding. Neither shall it be sufficient that the mind be lightened with the spirit of God, unless the heart be also strengthened and stablished with his power. Wherein the Schoolmen do altogether err, which in considering of faith, do only take hold of a bare and simple assent by knowledge, leaving out the confidence and assuredness of the heart. Therefore faith is both ways a singular gift of God, both that the mind of man is cleansed to taste the trueth of God, and that his heart is stablished therein. For the holy ghost not only is the beginner of faith, but also by degrees increaseth it, until by it he bring us to the heavenly kingdom.¹ That good thing (saith Paul) which was committed to thy keeping, keep in the holy ghost which dwelleth in us. But how Paul saith that the holy ghost is given by the hearing of faith, we may easily dissolve it. If there had ben but one only gift of the holy ghost, then it had ben an absurdity for him to call the holy ghost the effect of faith, which is the author and cause of faith. But when he maketh report of the gifts wherewith God garnisheth his Church, and by increasings of faith bringeth it to perfection, it is no marvel if he ascribe those things to faith which maketh us fit to receive them. This is reckoned a most strange conclusion, when it is said, that no man but he to whom it is given, can believe in Christ. But that is partly because they do not consider either how secrete and high the heavenly wisdom is, or how great mans dullness is in conceiving the mysteries of God: and partly because they look not unto that assured and steadfast constantnesse of heart, that is to say, the chief part of faith.

But this bare and outward declaration of the word of God, ought to haue largely sufficed to make it be beleued, if our owne blyndenesse and stubbournesse did not withstande it. But oure minde hath suche an inclination to vanitie, that it can neuer cleaue faste vnto the trueth of God, and hathe suche a dulnesse, that it is alwaie blinde and can not see the light thereof. Therefore there is nothynge auailably done by the worde without the enlightninge of the holy ghoste. Whereby also appeareth, that faithe is farre aboue mans vnderstanding. Neither shal it be sufficient that the minde be lightned with the spirit of God, vnlesse the hearte be also strengthened and stablished with his power. Wherein the Schoolemen do altogether erre, whiche in considerynge of faithe, do onely take holde of a bare and simple assent by knowledg, leauinge out the confidence and assurednesse of the heart. Therefore faith is both waies a syngular gyfte of God, bothe that the mynde of man is cleansed to taste the trueth of God, and that his hearte is stablished therein. For the holy ghoste not onely is the beginner of faythe, but also by degrees encreaseth it, vntil by it he bring vs to the heauenly kingdome.