The Institution of Christian Religion

The .xii. Chapter. ¶ That, to the end we may be fully persuaded of the free justification, we must lift up our minds to the judgement scare of God.

The .xii. Chapter. ¶ That, to the end we may be fully perswaded of the free iustification, we muste lift vp our mindes to the iudgement scare of God.

Although it appeareth by most evident testimonies, that all these things are true, yet we shall not clearly perceive how necessary they be, until we have set before our eyes those things that ought to be the grounds of all this disputation. First therefore let us remember this, that we purpose not to speak of the righteousness of a worldly judicial court, but of the heavenly judgement seat: that we should not measure by our own small portion, by what uprightness of works Gods judgement may be satisfied. But it is marvellous to see with what rashness and boldness it is commonly debated. Yea and it is to be seen how none do more boldly or with fuller mouths (as the saying is) prate of the righteousness of works, than they that are either monstrously sick of open outward diseases, or be ready to burst with inward vices. That cometh to pass because they think not upon the righteousness of God, whereof if they had never so little feeling, they would never make so great a mockery of it. And truly it is out of measure lightly regarded, when it is not acknowledged to be such and so perfect ⟨p. 182⟩that nothing be imputed unto it but every way whole and absolute, and defiled with no uncleanness: such as never was and never shall be able to be found in man. It is in deed easy and ready for every man in Schools to talk vainly upon the worthiness of works to justify men. But when they come into the sight of God, such dalliances must avoid, because there is earnest doing used, and no trifling strife about words. To this, to this I say, we must apply our mind, if we will profitably enquire of true righteousness, how we may answer the heavenly judge when he calleth us to account. Let us think him him a to be judge, not such a one as our own understandings do of themselves imagine: but such a one as he is painted out in the Scripture, with whose brightness the stars shall be darkened, by whose strength the hills do melt away, by whose wrath the earth is shaken, by whose wisdom the wise are taken in their subtlety, by whose pureness all things are proved unpure, whose righteousness the Angels are not able to bear, which maketh the innocent not innocent, whole vengeance when it is ones kindled pierceth to the bottom of hell. If he (I say) sit to examine mens doings, who shall appear assured before his throne?