The Institution of Christian Religion

To Christians the Spirit of the Lord is not a troublesome fantasy, which either themselves have brought forth in a dream, or have received being forged of other: but they reverently seek the knowledge of him at the Scriptures, where these two things be taught of him: First that he is given us unto sanctification, that he might bring us into the obedience of Gods will, being purged from uncleanness & defilings, ⟨image 211⟩which obedience can not stand, unless lusts be tamed and subdued, whereunto these men would give the bridle at liberty. Secondly we are taught that we are so cleansed by his sanctification, that we are still besieged with many vices and much weakness, so long as we are enclosed in the burden of our body: whereby it cometh to pass, that being far distant from perfection, we have need alway to increase somewhat, and being entangled in vices, we have need daily to wrestle with them. Whereupon also followeth, that shaking of sloth and carelessness, we must watch with heedful minds, that we be not compassed unaware with the snares of our flesh. Unless peradventure we think that we have proceeded further than the Apostle,¹ which yet was wearied of the Angel of Satan, that his strength might be made perfect with weakness: and which did unfeignedly represent in his flesh that division of the flesh and of the spirit.

To Christians the Spirit of the Lord is not a troublesome phantasie, whiche eyther themselues haue brought forth in a dreame, or haue receyued beyng forged of other: but they reuerently seeke the knoweledge of him at the Scriptures, where these two thynges be taught of hym: First that he is geuen vs vnto sanctificatiō, that he might bryng vs into the obedience of Gods wil, beyng purged from vncleannesse & defilinges, ⟨image 211⟩whiche obedience can not stand, vnlesse lustes be tamed and subdued, wherunto these men would geue the bridle at libertie. Secondly we are taught that we are so cleansed by his sanctification, that we are still besieged with many vices and much weakenesse, so longe as we are enclosed in the burden of our bodye: whereby it cōmeth to passe, that beyng farre distant from perfection, we haue neede alwaye to encrease somewhat, and beyng entāgled in vices, we haue neede dayly to wrastle with them. Whereupon also foloweth, that shakynge of slouth and carelesnesse, we muste watche with heedeful mindes, that we be not compassed vnware with the snares of our fleshe. Unlesse paraduenture we thinke that we haue proceded further than the Apostle,