The Institution of Christian Religion

Hereof proceedeth that unmeasurable sink of errors, wherewith §11the whole world hath been filled and overflowed. For each mans wit is to himself as a maze, so that it is no marvel that every several nation was diversely drawn into several devises, and not that only, but also that each several man had his several gods by him self. For sins that rash presumption and wantonness was joined to ignorance and darkness, there hath ben scarcely at any time any one man found, that did not forge to him self an idol or fancy in stead of God. Truly even as out of a wide and large spring do issue waters, so the infinite number of gods hath flowed out of the wit of man, while every man over licentiously straying, erroneously deviseth this or that concerning God him self. And yet I need not here to make a register of the superstitions, wherewith the world hath ben entangled: because both in so doing I should never have end, and also though I speak not one word of them, yet by so many corruptions it sufficiently appeareth how horrible is the blindness of mans mind. I pass over the rude and unlearned people. But among the Philosophers, which enterprysed with reason and learning to pierce unto heaven, how shameful is the disagreement? With the higher wit that any of them was endowed, and filled with art and science, with so much the more glorious colours he seemed to paint out his opinion. All which notwithstanding, if one do narrowly ⟨image 19⟩look upon, he shall find them to be but vanishing false colours. The Stoics seemed in their own conceit to speak very wisely, that out of all the parts of nature may be gathered divers names of God, and yet that God being but one is not thereby torn in sunder. As though we were not already more than enough inclined to vanity, unless a manifold plenty of gods set before us should further and more violently draw us into error. Also the Egyptians mystical science of divinity showeth, that they all diligently endeavoured to this end, not to seem to err without a reason. And it is possible, that at the first sight some thing seeming probable, might deceive the simple and ignorant: but no mortal man ever invented any thing, whereby religion hath not ben foully corrupted.

Hereof procedeth that vnmeasurable synke of errours, wherewith §11the whole worlde hath bene fylled and ouerflowen. For eche mannes witte is to hymselfe as a maze, so that it is no meruaile that euery seuerall nation was diuersely drawen into seuerall deuises, and not that onely, but also that eche seuerall man hadde his seuerall gods by hym selfe. For sins that rashe presumption and wantonnesse was ioyned to ignoraunce and darknesse, there hath ben scarcely at any tyme any one manne founde, that dydde not forge to hym selfe an ydole or fansye in stede of God. Truly euen as out of a wide and large spring do issue waters, so the infinite numbre of gods hath flowed out of the wit of man, while euery man ouer licentiousely strayeng, erroniousely deuiseth this or that concernyng God hym selfe. And yet I nede not here to make a register of the superstitions, wherwith the worlde hath ben entangled: bycause bothe in soo dooynge I shoulde neuer haue ende, and also thoughe I speake not one woorde of theym, yet by so many corruptions it sufficiently appeareth howe horrible is the blyndenesse of mans mynde. I passe ouer the rude and vnlearned people. But amonge the Philosophers, whiche enterprysed with reason and learnyng to pearce unto heauen, howe shamefulle is the disagreement? With the hygher wytte that any of theym was endewed, and fylled with arte and scyence, with so muche the more glorious coloures he seemed to painte out his opinion. All whiche notwithstandynge, yf one dooe narowely