The Institution of Christian Religion

As in an other place, when he glorieth that all the Godly are vanquishers in battle, he by and by addeth a reason, because of him that loved us.

As in an other place, when he glorieth that all the Godly are vanquishers in battell, he by and by addeth a reason, bycause of him that loued vs.

We see now that there is not in the holy ones that affiance of works, which either giveth any thing to the merit of them (forasmuch as they regard them none otherwise than as the gifts of God, whereby they reknowledg his goodness none otherwise than as signs of their calling, whereby may think upon their election) or which withdraweth not any thing from the free righteousness which we obtain in Christ, forasmuch as it hangeth upon it, and standeth not without it. The same thing doth Augustine in few words, but very well set out where he writeth. I do not say to the Lord, despise not the works of my hands, or I have sought the Lord with my hands and have not been deceived. But, I do not commend the works of my hands: for I fear, least when thou haste looked upon them, thou shalt find moe sins than merits. Only this I say, this I ask, this I desire, despise not the works of thy hands, behold in me thy work, not mine. For if thou beholdest mine, thou damnest me: if thou beholdest thine, thou crownest me. For also whatsoever good works I have, they are of thee. He setteth two causes, why he dare not boast of his works to God, because if he have any good works, he seeth therein nothing his own: secondly, because the same is also overwhelmed with multitude of since. Whereupon cometh to pass that the conscience feeleth thereby more fear and dismaying than assuredness. Therefore he would have God no otherwise to look on his well doings, than that reknowledging in them the grace of his calling, he may make an end of the work which he hath begun.

We see now that ther ys not in the holy ones that affiance of works, whiche either geueth any thinge to the merite of them (forasmuche as thei regarde them none otherwise than as the giftes of God, whereby thei reknowledg his goodnesse none otherwise than as signes of their calling, whereby maie thinke vpon their election) or whiche withdraweth not any thing from the free righteousnesse whiche wee obteine in Christe, for asmuche as it hangeth vpon it, and standeth not withoute it. The same thing doth Augustine in few wordes, but very wel set out where he writeth. I do not saie to the Lorde, despise not the workes of my handes, or I haue sought the Lorde with my handes and haue not been deceiued. But, I do not commned the workes of my handes: for I feare, least when thou haste loked vpon them, thou shalt finde moe sinnes than merites. Onli this I say, this I ask, this I desire, despise not ye workes of thy hands, beholde in me thy worke, not mine. For if thow beholdest mine, thou damnest me: if thou beholdest thine, thou crownest me. For also whatsoeuer good workes I haue, they are of thee. He setteth two causes, why he dare not boaste of his workes to God, bycause if he haue any good workes, he seeth therin nothing his owne: secondly, bycause the same is also ouerwhelmed wyth multytude of synnes. Whereupon commeth to passe that the conscience feleth thereby more feare and dismaieng than assurednesse. Therfore he woulde haue God no otherwise to loke on his well doinges, than that reknowledging in them the grace of his calling, he maie make an ende of the worke which he hathe begonne.