The Institution of Christian Religion

I will take away the stony heart out of their flesh, and I will give them a heart of flesh. He could not more evidently claim to himself, and take from us what so ever is good and right in our will than when he declareth that our conversion is a creation of a new spirit, and of a new heart. For it followeth alway, ⟨image 101⟩that both out of our will proceedeth no goodness till it be reformed: and that after reformation, so much as it is good, is of God and not of us.

I will take away the stony heart out of their flesh, and I will geue them a heart of flesh. He coulde not more euidently clayme to himselfe, and take from vs what so euer is good and right in our will than when he declareth that our conuersion is a creation of a newe spirite, and of a newe heart. For it followeth alwaye, ⟨image 101⟩that bothe out of our will proceedeth no goodnesse till it be reformed: and that after reformation, so muche as it is good, is of God and not of vs.

And so read we the prayers of holy men made to that effect, as, The Lord incline our heart to him (sayeth Solomon) that we may keep his commandments.¹ He showeth the frowardness of our heart, which naturally rejoiceth to rebel against the law of God if it be not bowed.² And the same thing is in the Psalm: Lord incline my heart to thy testimonies. For the comparison of contrariety is alway to be noted, which is between the perverse motion of the heart whereby it is carried to obstinacy, and this correction whereby it is led to obedience.³ When David feeling him self for a time without the directing grace, prayeth God to create a new heart within him, to renew a right spirit within his bowels: doeth he not acknowledge that all the parts of his heart are full of uncleanness, and his spirit writhen with crooked perverseness? and in calling the cleanness which he prayeth for, the creature of God, doeth he not attribute it wholly to God? But if any man take exception and say, that the very prayer is a token of a godly and holy affection: our answer is ready, that though David were by that time somewhat come to amendment, yet doeth he still compare his first state with that sorrowful fall that he had felt. Therefore taking upon him the person of a man estranged from God, he for good cause prayeth to have given him all these things that God giveth to his elect in regeneration. And so being like a dead man, he wisheth him self to be created of new, that of the bondslave of Satan, he may be made the instrument of the Holy Ghost. Marvellous and monstrous surely is the lust of our pride. God requireth nothing more earnestly, than that we should most religiously keep his Sabbath, that is in resting from our own works, but of us nothing is more hardly obtained, than bidding our own works farewell, to give due place to the works of God. If sluggishness hindered not, Christ hath given testimony evident enough of his graces, to make them not to be enviously suppressed.