The Institution of Christian Religion

To which purpose belongeth that which in an other place he teacheth, that many gilts of God do go before the good will of man, among the which the self same is one. Whereupon followeth, that he leaveth nothing that it may claim to it self.¹ Which thing Paul also hath namely expressed: For when he had said that it is God, which worketh in us both to will and to perform, he by and by addeth, that he doeth them both of his good will: declaring by this word, that it is his free goodness. Whereas they are wont to say, that after we have ones given place to the first grace, our own endeavours do now work together with the grace that followeth, to this I answer: if they mean that we, after we have ben ones by th• power of the Lord broken to the obedience of righteousness, do • our own accord go forward, and are inclined to follow the working of grace, I speak nothing against it. For it is most certain, that there is such a readiness of obeying, where the grace of God reigneth. But whence cometh that, but from this, that the spirit of God alway agreeing with it self, doth cherish and confirm to steadfastness of continuing, the same affection of obeying, which it self engendered at the beginning. But if they mean that man taketh of him self some what whereby to labour with the grace of God, they are most pestilently deceived.

To whyche purpose belongeth that whyche in an other place he teacheth, that many gyltes of God dooe goe before the good will of manne, amonge the whiche the selfe same is one. Whereupon foloweth, that he leaueth nothynge that it maye clayme to it selfe.¹ Whiche thynge Paule also hath namely expressed: For when he had sayde that it is God, whiche worketh in vs bothe to will and to performe, he by and by addeth, that he doeth them bothe of his good will: declaryng by this worde, that it is his free goodnesse. Whereas they are wounte to saye, that after we haue ones geuen place to the firste grace, our owne endeuors doe nowe worke together with the grace that followeth, to this I aunswere: yf they meane that wee, after we haue ben ones by th• power of the Lorde broken to the obedience of righteousnesse, doe • our owne accorde goe forwarde, and are inclined to follow the workynge of grace, I speake nothyng agaynste it. For it is moste certayne, that there is suche a redinesse of obeyng, where the grace of God reygueth. But whense cometh that, but from this, that the spirite of God alwaye agreyng wyth it selfe, doth cherishe and confirme to stedfastnesse of continuyng, the same affection of obeyeng, whyche it selfe engendred at the beginnyng. But if they meane that man taketh of him self some what whereby to labour with the grace of God, they are moste pestilently deceyued.