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John Calvin writes concerning the sufficiency and trustworthiness of God's Word towards the beginning of Book One of his Institutes.  In 1.9.2 (Book One, Chapter 9, paragraph 2) he writes how "The Holy Spirit is recognized in his agreement with Scripture": "...we ought zealously to apply ourselves both to read and to hearken to Scripture if indeed we want to receive any gain and benefit from the Spirit of God--even as Peter praises the zeal of those who were attentive to the prophetic teaching, which nevertheless could be seen to have given up its place after the light of the gospel dawned [ II Peter 1:19 ]. But on the contrary, if any spirit, passing over the the wisdom of God's Word, foists another doctrine upon us, he justly deserves to be suspected of vanity and lying [ Gal. 1:6-9 ]. What then? Since 'Satan disguises himself as an angel of light' [ II Cor. 11:14 ], what authority will the Spirit have among us, unless he be discerned by a most ce

"David's statement that ungodly men and fools feel in their hearts that there is no God [ Psalm 14:1 ; 53:1 ] must first...be limited to those who, by extinguishing the light of nature, deliberately befuddle themselves. Accordingly, we see that many, after they have become hardened in insolent and habitual sinning, furiously repel all remembrance of God, although this is freely suggested to them inwardly from the feeding of nature.  But to render their madness more detestable, David represents them as flatly denying God's existence; not that they deprive him of his being, but because, in despoiling him of his judgment and providence, they shut him up idle in heaven. Now there is nothing less in accord with God's nature than for him to cast off all government of the universe and abandon it to fortune, and to be blind to the wicked deeds of men, so that they may lust unpunished. Accordingly, whoever heedlessly indulges himself, his fear of heavenly judgment extinguishe