The Institution of Christian Religion

In the Material and Formal cause the caste a false colour, as though our works have a half place with faith and the righteousness of Christ. But this also they teach, the Scripture crying out against them, which simply affirmeth both that Christ is to us for ⟨p. 192⟩righteousness and life, and that this benefit of righteousness is possessed by only faith.

In the Materiall and Formall cause the caste a false colour, as though our workes haue a half place with faithe and the righteousnesse of Christ. But this also they teache, the Scripture criynge out against them, whiche simply affirmeth both that Christ is to vs for ⟨p. 192⟩righteousnesse and life, and that this benefit of righteousnesse is possesed by only faith.

But where as the holy men do oftentimes strengthen and comfort §18them selves with remembrance of their own innocency and uprightness, and sometime also forbear not to report of it with praise, that is done two ways: either that in comparing their good cause with the evil cause of the wicked, they conceive thereby assured trust of victory, not so much for commending of their own righteousness, as for the just & deserved condemning of their adversaries: or that even without comparison of other, while they record themselves before God, the pureness of their own conscience bringeth to them both some comfort & affiance. Of the first of these two ways, we shall see hereafter: now let us briefly declare of the latter, how it agreeth with that which we have above said, that in the judgement of God we must rest upon no affiance of works, and glory upon no opinion of them. This is the agreement that the holy ones, when it concerneth the founding and stablishing of their salvation, do without respect of works bend their eyes to the only goodness of God. And they do not only bend them selves to it afore all things as to the beginning of blessedness, but do rest therein as in the fulfilling of it. A conscience so founded, raised & stablished, is also stablished with consideration of works: namely so far as they are the witnessings of God dwelling & reigning in us. Sith therefore this affiance of works hath no place, unless thou have first cast the whole affiance of thy mind upon the mercy of God: it ought not to seem contrary to ye whereupon it hangeth. Wherefore when we exclude the affiance of works, we mean only this that a Christian mind may not bow to the merit of works as to the succour of salvation, but should throughly rest in the free promise of righteousness. But we forbid it not to underprop & strengthen this faith with the signs of the good will of God toward it self. For if all the good gifts which God hath bestowed upon us, when the be recorded in remembrance, are to us after a certain manner as it were beams of the face of God, by which we are enlightened to behold that sovereign light of goodness: much more is the grace of good works, which showeth that the Spirit of adoption is given us.