An abridgement of the Institution of Christian religion written

1 Furthermore it shall be expedient here to note to what end the Scripture doth teach that all things are ordered by God:¹ and first of all we must note, that we must consider the providence of God as well for the time to come as for the time past: secondly that it doth so order all things, that sometimes ⟨p. 53⟩it worketh by means, and sometimes without §1means, & sometimes against all means: lastly that §2it tendeth to this end that God may show that he careth §1 2 3for all mankind: and that he doth especially §3watch over his Church in governing the same. And §4now this must be added moreover, that although either §1the fatherly favour of God, or else the sharpness §2of his judgment do shine in the whole course of Gods providence: yet are the causes of those things which fall out sometimes hidden, so that this cogitation creepeth into our minds, that the affairs of men are turned over and whirled about with the blind sway of fortune: or else the flesh doth provoke us to murmur, as if God did make tennis balls of men to play withal. But we shall learn by the end,