The Institution of Christian Religion

There is no cause why we should of the name of reward gather an argument that our works are the cause of salvation. First let this be determined in our hearts, that the kingdom of heaven is not a reward of servants, but an inheritance of children, which they only shall enjoy, that are adopted of the lord to be his children:¹ & for no other cause, but for this adoption. For, the son of the bond woman shall not be heir, but the son of the free woman. And in the very same places, in which the holy ghost promiseth to works eternal glory for reward, in expressing the inheritance by name, he showeth the it cometh from else where.² So Christ rehearseth works, which he recompenseth with the rewarding of heaven, when he calleth the elect to the possession thereof: but he therewithal adjoineth that it must be possessed by right of inheritance. So Paul biddeth servants,³ which do their duty faithfully, to hope for reward of the lord: but he addeth, of inheritance. We see how they do as it were by express words proved that we impute not eternal blessedness to works, but •o the adoption of god. Why therefore do they therewithal together make mention of works? This question shall be made plain with one example of scripture. Before the birth of Isaac, there was promised to Abraham a seed in which all the nations of the earth should be blessed:⁴ & a multiplying of his seed, which should match the stars of the sky, and the ⟨p. 205⟩sands of the sea, & other like. In many years afterward, Abraham, as he was commanded by the oracle, prepared himself to offer up his son in sacrifice.⁵ When he had performed this obedience, he received a promise. I have sworn by my self (saith the lord) because y• hast done this thing, & hast not spared thine own only begotten son, I will bless thee and multiply thy seed as the stars of the sky, & the sands of the sea: thy seed shall possess the gates of their enemies, & all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in thy seed, because y hast obeyed my voice. What hear we? Hath Abraham by his obedience deserved the blessing, the promise whereof he had received before that the commandment was given? Here verily we have it without circumstances showed, that the lord rewardeth the works of the faithful with those benefits which he had already given them before that the works were thought of, having yet no cause why he should do good to them but his own mercy.