The Institution of Christian Religion

But that we stumble not at the first entry, (which we should do if §2we should enter disputation of a thing unknown) let us first declare what is meant by these speeches, Man to be justified before God, To be justified by faith or by works. He is said to be justified afore God, that is pronounced by the judgement of God both just and accepted for his own righteousness sake. For as wickedness is abominable before God, so a sinner can not find favour in his eyes, in respect that he is a sinner, or so long as he is accounted such a one. Therefore wheresoever sin is, there also appeareth the wrath and vengeance of God. He is justified that is not accounted in place of a sinner but of a just man, and by reason thereof he standeth fast before the judgement seat of God when all sinners fall. As if an innocent be brought to be arraigned before the seat of a righteous judge, when judgement is given according to his innocency, he is said to be justified before the judge: so he is justified before God that being exempt out of the number of sinners hath God a witness and affirmer of his righteousness. Therefore after the same manner a man shall be said to be justified by works, in whose life there is found such cleanness and holiness, as may deserve the testimony of righteousness before the throne of God: or he that with the uprightness of his works is able to answer and satisfy Gods judgement. Contrariwise he shall be said to be justified by faith that being excluded from the righteousness of works, doth by faith take hold of the righteousness of Christ: wherewith when he is clothed, he appeareth in the sight of God, not as a sinner, but as righteous. So we simply expound justification to be an acceptation, whereby God receiving us into favour taketh us for righteous. And we say that the same consisteth in ⟨image 251⟩forgiveness of sins, and imputation of the righteousness of Christ.

But that we stumble not at the first entrie, (whiche we should doe if §2we should entre disputation of a thing vnknowen) let vs first declare what is meant by these speches, Man to be iustified before God, To be iustified by fayth or by workes. He is sayd to be iustified afore God, yt is pronounced by the iudgement of God bothe iust and accepted for hys owne righteousnesse sake. For as wickednesse is abhominable before God, so a sinner can not finde fauour in his eyes, in respect that he is a sinner, or so long as he is accompted suche a one. Therfore wheresoeuer synne is, there also appereth the wrath and vengeance of God. He is iustifid that is not accompted in place of a sinner but of a iust man, and by reason therof he standeth fast before the iudgemēt seate of God when all sinners fal. As if an innocent be brought to be arayned before the seate of a righteous iudge, when iudgemēt is geuen accordinge to his innocencie, he is sayde to be iustified before the iudge: so he is iustified before God that being exempt out of the number of sinners hathe God a wytnesse and affirmer of his ryghteousnesse. Therfore after the same manner a man shalbe said to be iustified by workes, in whose lyfe there is founde suche cleannesse and holienesse, as may deserue the testimonie of righteousnesse before the throne of God: or he that with the vprightnesse of his workes is able to answere and satisfie Gods iudgement. Contrariwyse he shalbe said to be iustified by faith that being excluded from the righteousnesse of workes, doth by fayth take holde of ye righteousnesse of Christ: wherwith when he is clothed, he appereth in the sight of God, not as a sinner, but as righteous. So we simply expound iustification to be an acceptation, wherby God receiuing vs into fauour taketh vs for righteous. And we say that the same consisteth in