The Institution of Christian Religion

As the Philosophers have their certain ends of right and honesty, from which they derive particular duties and all the company of virtues: so the Scripture is not without her order in this matter: but holdeth a most goodly well ordered disposition, and much more certain than all the Philosophers orders. This only is the difference, that they (as they were vain glorious men) have diligently endeavoured to attain an exquisite plainness of order, to show fourth the ready aptness of their wit. But the Spirit of God, because he taught without curious affectation, hath not so exactly nor continually kept an orderly trade: which yet when he sometime useth he doth sufficiently declare, that it is not to be neglected of us.

As the Phylosophers haue their certaine endes of right and honestie, from whiche they deriue particular duties and al the companie of vertues: so the Scripture is not without her order in this matter: but holdeth a moste goodly well ordred disposition, and muche more certaine than all the Phylosophers orders. This onely is the difference, that they (as they were vaine glorious men) haue diligentlye endeuoured to atteine an exquisite plainesse of order, to shewe fourth the ready aptnesse of theyr wytte. But the Spirite of God, because he taught without curious affectation, hath not so exactely nor continuallye kept an orderly trade: whiche yet when hee sometyme vseth he doth sufficiently declare, that it is not to be neglected of vs.

This instruction that the Scripture teacheth, whereof we now §2speak, standeth chiefly upon two parts. The first, that there be poured and brought into our minds a love of righteousness, to which otherwise we are of nature nothing inclined. The second, that there be a rule set out unto us, that may not suffer us to go out of the way in following righteousness. In commendation of righteousness it hath both very many and very good reasons: of which we have herebefore in diverse places spoken of some, and other some we shall in this place briefly touch. At what foundation may it better begin, than when it putteth us in mind that we must be holy, because our God is holy? For when we were scattered abroad like straying sheep, and dispersed abroad in the maze of the world, he gathered us together again, to join us in one flock with him self. When we hear mention made of our joining with God, let us remember that holiness must be the bond thereof. Not that by the merit of holiness we come into common with him: (where as rather we must first cleae unto him, that being endued with his holiness, we may follow whether he calleth) but because it greatly pertaineth to his glory, that he have no fellowship with wickedness and uncleanness. Therefore also it teacheth, that this is the end of our calling, which we ought alway to have respect unto, if we will answer God that calleth us. For to what purpose was it, that we should be drawn out of the wickedness and filthiness of the world, if we give our selves leave all our life long to wallow in them still? Moreover it also admonisheth us, that to the end we may be reckoned among the people of God, we must dwell in the holy city Jerusalem.