The Institution of Christian Religion

The eleventh Chapter. ¶Of the justification of Faith, and first of the definition of the name and of the thing.

The aleuenth Chapter. ¶Of the iustification of Fayth, and fyrst of the definition of the name and of the thyng.

I Think I have already sufficiently declared before, how §1there remaineth for men being accursed by the law one only help to recover salvation: again, what Faith is, and what benefits of God it bestoweth upon man, and what fruits it bringeth fourth in him. The sum of all was this, that Christ is given us by the goodness of God, and conceived and possessed of us by faith, by partaking of whom we receive principally two graces: the first, that being reconciled to God by his innocency, we may now in stead of a judge have a merciful father in heaven: the second, that being sanctified by his Spirit, we may give our selves to innocency and pureness of life. As for regeneration, which is the second grace, we have already spoken of it as much as seemed to be sufficient. The manner of justification was therefore less touched, because it served well for our purpose, first to understand both how the Faith by which alone we receive freely given righteousness by the mercy of God, is not idle from good works: and also what be the good works of the holy ones, whereupon part of this question entreateth. Therefore they are first to be throughly discussed, and so discussed that we must remember that this the chief stay of upholding religion, that we may be the more careful and heedful about it. For unless thou first know, in what state thou art with God, and what his judgement is of thee: as thou hast no ground to stablish thy salvation, so hast thou also none to raise thy reverent fear toward God. But the necessity of this knowledge shall better appear by knowledge it self.

I Thinke I haue already sufficiently declared before, howe §1there remayneth for men being accursed by the lawe one only helpe to recouer saluation: agayne, what Faith is, and what benefites of God it bestoweth vpon man, and what fruites it bringeth fourth in hym. The summe of all was this, that Christ is geuen vs by the goodnesse of God, and cōceiued and possessed of vs by faith, by partakyng of whome we receiue principally twoo graces: the first, that being reconciled to God by his innocencie, we may nowe in stede of a iudge haue a merciful father in heauen: the second, that being sanctified by his Spirite, we maye geue our selues to innocencie and purenesse of lyfe. As for regeneration, whiche is the second grace, we haue alredy spoken of it as muche as semed to be sufficient. The manner of iustification was therfore lesse touched, because it serued well for our purpose, first to vnderstande both how the Faythe by whiche alone we receiue frely geuen righteousnesse by the mercie of God, is not idle from good workes: and also what be the good workes of the holy ones, wherupon part of this question entreateth. Therfore they are first to be throughly discussed, and so discussed that we must remembre that this the chefe stay of vpholding religion, that we may be the more carefull and hedefull about it. For vnlesse thou first knowe, in what state thou art with God, and what his iudgement is of thee: as thou hast no ground to stablishe thy saluation, so hast thou also none to rayse thy reuerent feare toward God. But the necessitie of this knoweledge shall better appere by knowledge it selfe.