The Institution of Christian Religion

Christian liberty (as I think) consisteth in three parts. The first, that the consciences of the faithful, when the affiance of their justification before God is to be sought, may raise & advance themselves above the law, and forget the whole righteousness of the law For sith the law (as we have already in an other place declared) leaveth no man righteous: either we are excluded from all hope of justification, or we must be loosed from the law, and so that there be no regard at all had of works. For whos• •hinketh that he must bring somewhat be it never so little of good works to obtain righteousness, he can not appoint any end or measure of them, butte maketh him self debtor to the whole ⟨p. 209⟩law. Therefore taking away all mention of the law, and laying aside all thinking upon works, we must embrace the only mercy of God, when we entreat of justification: and turning away our sight from our selves, we must behold Christ alone. For there the question is not how we be righteous: but how although we be unrighteous and unworthy, we be taken for worthy. Of which thing if consciences will attain any certainty, they must give no place to the law. Neither can any man hereby gather that the law is superfluous to the faithful, whom it doth not therefore cease to teach and exhort, and prick forward to goodness, although before the judgment seat of God it hath no place in their consciences. For these two things, as they are most diverse, so must be well and diligently distinguished of us. The whole life of Christians ought to be a certain meditation of godliness,¹ because they are called into sanctification. Herein standeth the office of the law, that by putting them in mind of their duty, it should stir them up to the endeavour of holiness & innocency. But when consciences are careful how they may have God merciful, what they shall answer, & upon what affiance they shall stand if they be called to his judgement, there is not to be reckoned what the law requireth, but only Christ must be set forth for righteousness, which passeth all perfection of the •awe.

Christian libertie (as I think) consisteth in three partes. The firste, that the consciences of the faithful, when the affiance of their iustification before God is to be sought, may raise & aduaunce thēselues aboue the law, and forget the whole righteousnesse of the lawe For sithe the lawe (as we haue already in an other place declared) leaueth no man righteous: either we are excluded frō all hope of iustificatiō, or we muste be loosed from the lawe, and so that there be no regarde at al hadde of workes. For whos hinketh that he must bring somwhat be it neuer so little of good workes to obteine righteousnesse, he can not apointe any ende or measure of them, butte maketh him selfe detter to the whole