The Institution of Christian Religion

Because unless the will of his father had moved him, he could not himself have satisfied the office committed unto him. For though we have in an other place said, that all the deservings of Christ himself do proceed from the mere good will of God, yet that maketh nothing to that fantastical thing, wherewith Osiander bewitcheth both his own and simple mens eyes. For who would suffer a man to gather this conclusion, that because God is the fountain & beginning of our righteousness, therefore we be essentially righteous, & the essence of Gods righteousness dwelleth in us?¹ In redeeming the church (saith Isaiah) God did put on his righteousness as a harness: but did he so to spoil Christ of his armour which he had given him, to make him to be no perfect redeemer? But the Prophet meant nothing else but that God borrowed nothing out of himself, nor was holpen by any aid to redeem us. Which thing Paul briefly expressed in other words,² saying that he gave us salvation to the showing of his righteousness. But this doth not overthrow that which he teacheth in an other place, that we are righteous by the obedience of one man.³ Finally whosoever wrappeth up a double righteousness, that poor souls may not rest in the mere ⟨p. 178⟩only mercy of God, he doth in a mockery crown Christ with thorns.

Bicause vnlesse ye wil of his father had moued him, he could not himself haue satisfied ye office cōmitted vnto him. For though we haue in an other place sayd, yt al the deseruings of Christ himself do procede frō the mere good will of God, yet that maketh nothing to that fantastical thing, wherwith Osiander bewitcheth both his own and simple mens eyes. For whoe would suffer a mā to gather this cōclusion, that bicause God is the fountaine & beginning of our righteousnesse, therfore we be essentially righteous, & the essence of Gods righteousnesse dwelleth in vs?¹ In redeminge the church (sayth Esaye) God did put on his righteousnesse as a harnesse: but dyd he so to spoyle Christ of his armure which he had geuen him, to make him to be no perfect redemer? But the Prophet meante nothyng els but that God borowed nothing out of himselfe, nor was holpen by any ayde to redme vs. Which thing Paule brefly expressed in other wordes,