A17662:1173
The Institution of Christian Religion
The institution of Christian religion, written in Latin by master John Calvin, and translated into English according to the authors last edition. Seen and allowed according to the order appointed in the Queens majesties injunctionsThe institution of Christian religion, vvrytten in Latine by maister Ihon Caluin, and translated into Englysh according to the authors last edition. Seen and allowed according to the order appointed in the Quenes maiesties iniunctions
London: printed by Reinolde Wolfe & Richard Harison, 1561London: printed by Reinolde VVolfe & Richarde Harison, 1561
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The .xvii. Chapter. ¶ The agreement of the promises of the law and the Gospel.
The .xvii. Chapter. ¶ The agreement of the promises of the lawe and the Gospell.
Now let us also go through the other arguments wherewith §8Satan by the soldiers of his guard, goeth about either to overthrow or batter the justification of faith. This I think we have already wrong from the slanderers, that they can no more charge us as enemies of good works. For, justification is taken away from good works, not that no good works should be done, or that those which be done should be denied to be good, but that we should not put affiance in them, not glory in them, not ascribe salvation to them. For this is our affiance, this is our glory, and the only author of our salvation, that Christ the son of God is ours, and we likewise are in him the sons of God, and heirs of the heavenly kingdom, being called by the goodness of God, not by our own worthiness, into the hope of eternal blessedness. But because they do beside these assail us, as we have said, with other engines, go to, let us go forward in beating away these also. First they come back to the promises of the law, which the Lord did set forth to the keepers of his law: and they ask whether we will have them to be utterly void or effectual. Because it were an absurdity and to be scorned to say that they are void, they take it for confessed that they are of some effectualness. Hereupon they reason that we are not justified by only faith.1 For thus saith the Lord: And it shall be, if thou shalt hear these commandments and judgements, and shall keep them and do them, the Lord also shall keep with thee his covenant and mercy which he hath sworn to thy fathers, he shall love thee and multiply thee,2 and bless thee, &c. Again, If ye shall well direct your ways and your endeavours, if ye walk not after strange Gods, if ye do judgement between man and man, and go not back into malice, I will walk in y middest of you. I will not recite a thousand pieces of the same sort, which sith they nothing differ in sense, shall be declared by the solution of these.