OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE CREATOR

"But although our mind cannot conceive of God, without rendering some worship
to him, it will not, however, be sufficient simply to hold that he is the only being whom all ought
to worship and adore, unless we are also persuaded that he is the fountain of all goodness, and that
we must seek everything in him, and in none but him. My meaning is: we must be persuaded not
only that as he once formed the world, so he sustains it by his boundless power, governs it by his
wisdom, preserves it by his goodness, in particular, rules the human race with justice and Judgment,
bears with them in mercy, shields them by his protection; but also that not a particle of light, or
wisdom, or justice, or power, or rectitude, or genuine truth, will anywhere be found, which does
not flow from him, and of which he is not the cause; in this way we must learn to expect and ask
all things from him, and thankfully ascribe to him whatever we receive.....For, until
men feel that they owe everything to God, that they are cherished by his paternal care, and that he
is the author of all their blessings, so that nought is to be looked for away from him, they will never submit to him in voluntary obedience; nay, unless they place their entire happiness in him, they
will never yield up their whole selves to him in truth and sincerity.....What avails it, in short, to know a God with whom we have nothing to do? The
effect of our knowledge rather ought to be, first, to teach us reverence and fear; and, secondly, to
induce us, under its guidance and teaching, to ask every good thing from him, and, when it is
received, ascribe it to him. For how can the idea of God enter your mind without instantly giving
rise to the thought, that since you are his workmanship, you are bound, by the very law of creation,to submit to his authority?—that your life is due to him?—that whatever you do ought to havereference to him? If so, it undoubtedly follows that your life is sadly corrupted, if it is not framed in obedience to him, since his will ought to be the law of our lives"

Calvin Institutes of Christian Religion