The Institution of Christian Religion

But it is well enough known that the same is done no other way▪ than when by marvellous manner of communicating, Christ poureth into us the force of his righteousness. As it is written in an other place,¹ that the spirit is life unto us, for righteousness sake. Therefore we may not otherwise expound that which is said that we are dead in Adam but thus, that he in sinning did not only purchase mischief and ruin to himself, but also throw down our nature headlong into like destruction. And that not only to the corruption of him self, which pertaineth nothing to us, but because he infected all his seed with the same corruption, whereinto he was fallen For otherwise that saying of Paul could not stand true,² that all are by nature the sons of wrath, if they were not already accursed in the womb. And it is easily gathered, that nature is there meant not such as it was create by God, but such as it was corrupted in Adam. For it were not convenient, that God should be made the author of Death. Adam therefore so corrupted him self, that the infection passed from him into all his offspring. And the heavenly Judge him self, Christ, doeth also plainly enough ⟨image 83⟩pronounce, that all are borne evil and corrupted, where he teacheth, that what soever is borne of flesh,³ is flesh, and that therefore the gate of life is closed against all men, until they be begotten again.

But it is well enough knowen that the same is done no other waye▪ than when by meruellous māner of communicating, Christ poureth into vs the force of his righteousnesse. As it is wrytten in an other place,¹ that the spirite is life vnto vs, for righteousnesse sake. Therefore wee maye not otherwyse expounde that whyche is sayde that we are dead in Adam but thus, that he in sinnynge dyd not onely purchace mischiefe and ruine to hymselfe, but also throwe downe our nature hedlonge into like destructiō. And that not only to the corruption of hym selfe, whych perteyneth nothyng to vs, but bicause he infected al his sede with the same corruptiō, wherinto he was fallen For otherwise that sayeng of Paule could not stād true,