The Institution of Christian Religion

Here it is good to remember the relation that we have before said §17to be between faith and the Gospel: because it is said for this cause that faith justifieth, for that it receiveth & embraceth the righteousness offered in the gospel. And whereas it is said to be offered by the gospel, thereby all consideration of works is excluded. Which thing Paul declareth many times else where, but most plainly in two places. For, to the Romans,¹ comparing the law and the gospel together he saith: the righteousness that is by the law is thus, the man that doth these things shall live in them. But the righteousness that is of faith offereth salvation, if thou believe in thy heart and confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and that the father hath raised him up from the dead. See you not how he maketh this the difference of the law and the Gospel, that the law giveth righteousness to works, and the Gospel giveth tree righteousness without help of works? It is a notable place, and that may deliver us out of many hard doubts, if we understand that the same righteousness that is given us by the Gospel is free from all conditions of the law. This is the reason, why he doth more than ones with great seeming of contrariety set the promise by way of opposition against the law,² as it the inheritance be of the law, then is it not of the promise: & all the rest in the same chapter to the same effect. Truly the law it self hath also her promises. Therefore there must needs be in the promises of the gospel, something different & diverse from the promises of the law, unless we will confess that the comparison is very sound. But what diversity shall this be, unless it be that they are freely given, and upholden by the only mercy of God, whereas the promises of the law hang upon the condition of works. Neither let any man here carp against me, and say, that in this place the righteousness is rejected which men of their own force and freewill would compel God to receive:³ forasmuch as Paul without exception teacheth that the law in commanding profiteth nothing: because there is none not only of the common multitude, but also of the perfectest, that fulfilleth it. Love undoubtedly is the chief point of the law: