The Institution of Christian Religion

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.

But where as the holy men do oftentimes strengthen and comforte §18them selues with remembrance of their owne innocencie and vprightnesse, and somtime also forbeare not to report of it with prayse, that is done twoo wayes: either that in comparing their good cause with the euell cause of the wicked, they conceiue thereby assured trust of victory, not so muche for commending of their own righteousnes, as for ye iust & deserued condemning of their aduersaries: or that euen without comparison of other, while thei recorde thēselues before God, the purenesse of their own conscience bringeth to them both some comfort & affiance. Of the first of these two wayes, we shall se hereafter: now let vs brefely declare of the latter, how it agreeth with that whiche we haue aboue said, yt in the iudgemēt of God we must rest vpō no affiance of workes, and glorie vpon no opinion of them. This is the agrement that the holy ones, when it concerneth the founding and stablishinge of their saluation, do without respect of workes bend their eies to the only goodnesse of God. And they do not only bend them selues to it afore al thinges as to the beginning of blessednesse, but do rest therin as in the fulfilling of it. A conscience so founded, raised & stablished, is also stablished with consideration of workes: namely so far as they are ye witnessings of God dwelling & reigning in vs. Sithe therfore this affiance of workes hath no place, vnlesse thou haue first cast the whole affiance of thy mynde vpon the mercie of God: it ought not to seme cōtrary to ye wherupon it hangeth. Wherfore whē we exclude the affiance of workes, we meane only this yt a Christian mind may not bowe to the merit of workes as to the succour of saluation, but should throughly rest in the free promise of righteousnesse. But we forbid it not to vnderprop & strengthen this faith with the signes of the good will of God toward it selfe. For if al the good giftes whiche God hath bestowed vpon vs, whē the be recorded in remēbrance, are to vs after a certaine manner as it were beames of the face of God, by whiche we ar enlightened to behold that soueraigne light of goodnesse: much more is the grace of good workes, whiche sheweth that the Spirite of adoption is geuen vs.