The Institution of Christian Religion

Truly he that so speaketh, showeth, that so soon as a man hath repented, he will by and by become appeasable: and that by our stiffness he is enforced to that rigour in chastising of faults, which should have ben prevented with willing amendment. Yet forasmuch as we all are of such hardness and rudeness as universally needeth chastisement: it seemed good to him being a most wise father, to exercise all without exception with a common scourge all their life long. But it is marvellous why they so cast their eyes upon the only example of David, and are no• moved with so many examples, in which they might have beholden free forgiveness of sins.¹ It is read that the Publican went out of the temple justified. Their followed no pain. Peter obtained pardon of his offence, his tears we read (saith Ambrose) his satisfaction we read not. And the man sick of the Palsy heard it spoken to him: Rise, thy sins are forgiven thee. There was no pain laid upon him. Al the absolutions that are rehearsed in the Scripture, are set out as given freely. Out of this great number o• examples, a rule should rather have ben gathered than of that only example that containeth in it a ⟨image 230⟩certain special matter.

Truely he that so speaketh, sheweth, that so sone as a man hath repented, he wil by and by become appeasable: and that by our stifnesse he is enforced to that rigour in chastisyng of faultes, which should haue ben preuented with willyng amendement. Yet forasmuch as we all are of suche hardnesse and rudenesse as vniuersally needeth chastisemēt: it semed good to him beyng a most wise father, to exercise al without exception with a cōmon scourge al their life long. But it is maruelous why thei so cast their eyes vpon the only example of Dauid, and are no• moued with so many examples, in which they might haue beholden free forgeuenesse of sinnes.¹ It is read that the Publicane wēt out of the temple iustified. Their folowed no peyne. Peter obteyned pardon of his offence, his teares we reade (sayth Ambrose) his satis•actiō we reade not. And the man sicke of the Palsey heard it spoken to him: Rise, thy sinnes are forgeuen thee. There was no peyne layed vpon him. Al the absolutions that are rehearsed in the Scripture, are set out as geuen freely. Out of this great number o examples, a rule shoulde rather haue ben gathered than of that only example that conteyneth in it a