The Institution of Christian Religion

But after that the Lord hath brought man out of the bottomless depth of destruction, and severed him to himself by grace of adoption: because he hath now begotten him and newly formed him into a new life, he now embraceth him, as a new creature with the gifts of his Spirit. This is that accepting whereof Peter maketh mention, by which the faithful are after their vocation allured of God even in respect also of works: for the Lord can not but love and kiss those good things which he worketh in them by his Spirit. But this is alway to be remembered, that they are none otherwise acceptable to God in respect of works, but in as much as for their cause and for their sakes, whatsoever good works he hath given them in increasing of his liberality, he also vouchsafeth to accept. For whence have they good works▪ but because the Lord, as he hath chosen them for vessels unto honour, so will garnish them with true godliness? Whereby also are they accounted good as though there were nothing wanting in them, but because the kind Father tenderly granteth pardon to those deformities & spots that cleave to them? Summarily, he signifieth nothing else in this place, but that to God his children are acceptable & lovely in whom he seeth the marks and features of his own face. For we have in an other place taught that regeneration is a repairing of the image of God in us. Forasmuch as therefore wheresoever the Lord beholdeth his own face, he both worthily loveth it and hath it in honour: it is not without cause said, that the life of the faithful being framed to holiness & righteousness pleaseth him, but because the godly being clothed with mortal flesh, are yet sinners, and their good works are but begun and savouring of the faultiness of the flesh; he can not be favourable neither to those nor to these, unless he more embrace them in Christ than in themselves. After this manner are those places to be taken, which testify that God is kind & merciful to the followers of righteousness. Moses said to the Israelites,¹ The Lord thy God keepeth covenant, to a thousand generations: which sentence was afterward used of the people for a common manner of speech. So Solomon in his solemn prayer,² saith, Lord God of Israel, which keepest covenant and mercy to thy servants which walk before thee in their whole heart.