The Institution of Christian Religion

I may cry out with wondering, but not show it in disputing▪ Finally the sum cometh to this, that Christ when he enlighteneth us unto faith by the power of his spirit, doth there withal graft us into his body, that we may be made partakers of all good things.

I maie crie out with woundering, but not shewe it in disputing▪ Finally the summe commeth to this, that Christ when he enlightneth vs vnto faith by the power of hys spirite, doth there withall graffe vs into his bodie, that wee maie be made partakers of all good thynges.

Now remaineth that that which the mind hath received, may be further conveyed into the heart. For the word of God is not throughly received by faith, if it swim in the top of the brain, but when it hath taken root in the bottom of the heart that it may be an invincible defence to bear and repulse all the engines of tentations. Now if it be true, that the true understanding of the mind is the enlightening thereof, then in such confirmation of the heart, his power much more evidently appeareth, even by so much as the distrustfulness of the heart is greater than the blindness of the wit: and as it is harder to have the mind furnished with assuredness, than the wit to be instructed with thinking. Therefore the Spirit performeth the office of a seal, to seal up in our hearts those same promises, the assurance whereof it first imprinted in our wits, and serveth for an earnest to confirm and stablish them.¹ Sith ye believed (saith the Apostle) ye are sealed up with the holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance. See you not how he teacheth that by the spirit the hearts of the faithful are graven as with a seal? and how for the same reason he calleth him the Spirit of promise, because he ratifieth the Gospel unto us? Likewise to the Corinthians he saith: God which anointed us,²