The Institution of Christian Religion

Only let us not imagine a cavillation of merit & reward, wherein the Sophisters do fondly stick fast, because they consider with this end which we set forth. But how unorderly is it, when the lord calleth us to one end, for us to look to an other? Nothing is more ⟨p. 206⟩the weakness of our flesh with some comfort, nor to puff up our minds with glory. Whosoever therefore doth thereby gather the merit of works, or doth in one balance weigh work with reward, he erreth far from the right mark of God.

Onely let vs not imagine a cauilatiō of merite & reward, wherein the Sophisters do fondly stick fast, bicause thei cōsider wt this end which we set forth. But how vnordrely is it, when ye lorde calleth vs to one end, for vs to loke to an other? Nothing is more ⟨p. 206⟩the weakenesse of our flesh with some cōfort, nor to puffe vp our minds wyth glorie. Whosoeuer therefore dothe thereby gather the merit of workes, or doth in one balance weie worke with rewarde, he erreth far from the right marke of God.

Wherefore when the Scripture saith that God the just judge will §5one day render to his a crown of righteousness,¹ I do not only take exception with Augustine, & say. To whom should he being a just judge, tender a crown, if he had not being a merciful father given grace? & how should there be righteousness, unless grace went before which justifieth the unrighteous? How should these due things he rendered, unless these undue things were first given? But also I add an other thing. Howe should he impute righteousness to our works, unless his tender mercifulness did hide the unrighteousness that is in them? Howe should he judge them worthy of reward, unless he did by immeasurable bountifulness take away that which is worthy of punishment? For he is wont to call eternal life, grace: because it is rendered to the free gifts of God when it is repaid to works. But the Scripture doth further humble us, & therewithal raise us up. For beside this that it forbiddeth us to glory in works, because they are the free gifts of God, it therewithal teacheth that they are alway defiled with some dregs, that they can not satisfy God, if they be examined by the rule of his judgment: butte least our courage should faint, it teacheth that they please by only pardon. But although Augustine speaketh somewhat otherwise than we do: yet that he doth not so disagree in the matter, shall appear by his words in his third book to Boniface.