The Institution of Christian Religion

This ground being conceived, it shall be easy to perceive where our adversaries do miss. For they fall into two deceits in the word, the one in the name of faith, yt other in the word of justifying. Whereas the Apostle nameth faith a vain opinion far distant from the truth of faith, it is spoken by way of granting, which is no derogation to the matter: which he showeth at the beginning in these words. What profiteth it, my brethren, If any man say that he hath faith, & hath no works? He doth not say, if any have faith without works, but, If any man boast. More plainly also he speaketh a little after, where he in mockery maketh it worse than the devils knowledge: last of all, when he calleth it dead. But by the definition you may sufficiently perceive what he meaneth. Thou believest (saith he) that there is a God. Truly if nothing be contained in this faith but to believe that there is a God, it is now no marvel if it do not justify. And when this is taken from it, let us not think that any thing is a bared from the Christian faith, the nature whereof is far otherwise. For after what manner doth true faith justify us, but when it conjoineth us with Christ, that being made one with him, we may enjoy the partaking of his righteousness. It doth not therefore justify us by this that it conceiveth a knowledge of the being of God, but by this that it resteth upon the assuredness of the mercy of God.

This ground being cōceiued, it shalbe easy to perceaue where oure aduersaries do misse. For thei fal into two deceites in ye word, the one in ye name of faith, yt other in ye word of iustifieng. Whereas the Apostle nameth faith a vaine opinion farr distant from ye truth of faith, it is spokē by waie of graunting, which is no derogation to the matter: whych he sheweth at ye beginning in these words. What profiteth it, my brothrē, If any man say yt he hath faith, & hath no works? He doth not say, if any haue faith wtout workes, but, If any man boast. More plainely also he speaketh a little after, where he in mockerie maketh yt worse than the deuills knowledg: last of al, when he calleth it dead. But by the definition you maye sufficiently perceaue what hee meaneth. Thou beleuest (saith he) yt there is a God. Truely if nothing be conteined in thys faith but to beleue that there is a God, it is now no maruel if it do not iustifie. And when this is taken from it, let vs not think that any thing is a bared from the Christian faith, the nature whereof ys farre otherwise. For after what manner doth true faith iustifie vs, but when it cōioyneth vs with Christ, that being made one wt him, we may enioy the partakyng of hys righteousnesse. It dothe not therefore iustifie vs by this that it conceiueth a knowledge of the beinge of God, but by thys that it resteth vpon the assurednesse of the mercy of God.