The Institution of Christian Religion

If he did say no more, but that Christ in justifying us, is by essential conjoining made ours: and that not only he is our head, in that he is man, butte also that the substance of the divine nature is poured into us. He should with less hurt feed him self daintily, and peradventure so great a contention should not have been raised for this doubting error. Butte sith this beginning is like a cuttle that with casting out of black and thick blood hideth her many tails, we must needs earnestly resist unless we will wittingly and willingly suffer that righteousness to be taken from us, which only bringeth us confidence to glory of salvation. For in all this discourse, the name of righteousness, and this word justifying, extend to two parts: that to be justified is not only to be reconciled to God with free pardon, but also to be made righteous, that righteousness ⟨p. 174⟩is not a free imputation but a holiness and uprightness, which the substance of God remaining in us doth breath into us. Then he stoutly denieth, that Christ is our righteousness in respect that being a priest he did with satisfactorily purging sins appease his father toward us, but in respect that he is eternal God and life. To prove that first point, that God doth justify not only by forgiving but also by regenerating, he asketh whether God doeth leave them whom he doth justify such as they were by nature, changing nothing of their vices. The answer hereof is very easy: that as Christ can not be torn in parts so these two things which we together and jointly receive in him, that is to say righteousness and sanctification, are inseparable. Therefore, whomsoever God receiveth into favour, he doth also therewith all give them the spirit of adoption, by the power whereof he newly fashioneth them after his image. But if the brightness of the sun can not be severed from the heat thereof, shall we therefore say that the earth is warmed with the & light, enlightened with the heat? There is nothing more fit for this purpose, than this similitude. The sun with his heat giveth life and fruitfulness to the earth, with his beams he giveth light & brightness. Here is a mutual & unseparable con joining: yet reason forbiddeth to convey to the one that which is peculiar to the other.

If he did saye no more, but that Christe in iustyfying vs, ys by essentiall conioynynge made oures: and that not onely he is our heade, in that hee ys manne, butte also that the substaunce of the diuine nature ys powred into vs. Hee shoulde wyth lesse hurte feede hym selfe deyntyly, and paraduenture so greate a contention shoulde not haue been raysed for thys doubtynge erroure. Butte sythe thys beginning is lyke a cuttle that with casting oute of blacke and thycke bloode hydeth her many tayles, we muste nedes earnestly resiste vnlesse we wyll wittyngly and wyllyngely suffer that ryghteousnesse to be taken from vs, whiche onely bryngeth vs confydence to glorie of saluation. For in all this discourse, the name of ryghteousnesse, and thys worde iustifyeng, extende to two partes: that to be iustified is not only to be reconciled to God wt fre pardō, but also to be made righteous, yt righteousnes