The Institution of Christian Religion

And here are alway two things to be principally looked unto: that is to say, that there may remain to the Lord his glory undiminished and as it were wholly and perfectly maintained, and to our consciences an untroubled quietness and calm tranquillity before his judgement. We see how oft and how earnestly the Scripture exhorteth us, to give ⟨p. 185⟩only to God a confession of praise, when we entreat of righteousness. And the Apostle testifieth,¹ that this was the Lords principal purpose of giving us righteousness in Christ, that he might show his own righteousness. And what a showing that should be, he declareth immediately after: that is, if he alone be known to be righteous, and that justified him that is of the faith of Jesus Christ. Thou seest that the righteousness of God is not sufficiently set out, unless he alone be accounted righteous, and do communicate the grace of righteousness to them that deserve it not. By this mean he will have every mouth to be stopped, and the whole World to be made subject to him. For while man hath any thing to speak in his own defence, so long there is somewhat taken away from the glory of God.² So in Ezekiel he teacheth how much we glorify his name by reknowleging of our own wickedness. You shall remember (sayeth he) the ways and all the wicked doings wherewith ye have been defiled. And ye shall be displeased with your selves in your own sight, in all the evils that ye have committed. And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall do good to you for mine own names sake, and not according to your most wicked offences. If these things be contained in the true knowledge of God, that we being bruised with knowledge of our own iniquity, should consider that he doth good to us where as we be unworthy thereof: why then do we to our great hurt attempt to steal away from the Lord any parcel be it never so small of the praise of his free goodness? Like wise Jeremiah when he crieth out,³ Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, or the rich man in his richesse, or the strong man in his strength, but let him that glorieth, glory in the Lord: doth he not there declare that somewhat is diminished from Gods glory, if man glory in him self?