The Institution of Christian Religion

And a little after he concludeth, that God with his gifts goeth before all deservings, that out of the same he may gather his own deservings, and doth give altogether freely, because he findeth nothing whereupon to save. Butte what need is it to make a longer register, when such sentences are often found in his writings?¹ But the Apostle shall yet better deliver them from this error, if they hear from what beginning he conveyeth the glory of the Saints: Whom he hath chosen, them he hath called: whom he hath called, them he hath justified: whom he hath justified, them he hath glorified. Why then, as witnesseth the Apostle, are the faithful crowned? because by the Lords mercy and ⟨p. 28⟩not by their own endeavour they are both chosen and called and justified. Away therefore with this vain fear, that there shall no•e more be any deservings, if free will shall not stand. For it is most foolish to be frayed away and to flee from that to which the Scripture calleth us.² If (saith he) thou haste received all things, why gloryest thou, as if thou haddest not received them? Thou seest that for the same cause he taketh all things from free will, to leave no place for deservings: butte as the bountifulness and liberality of God is manifold, and impossible to be spent out, those graces which he bestoweth on us, because he maketh them ours, he rewardeth as if they were our own virtues.

And a lyttle after hee concludeth, that God wyth hys gyftes goeth before all deseruynges, that oute of the same hee maye gather hys owne deseruinges, and doothe geue alltogether freelye, bycause hee fyndeth nothynge wherevpon to saue. Butte what neede is yt to make a longer regyster, when suche sentences are often founde in hys wrytynges?¹ But the Apostle shall yet better deliuer them from thys erroure, yf they heare from what begynnynge hee conueieth the glorie of the Saintes: Whome he hathe chosen, them he hathe called: whome hee hathe called, them hee hathe iustified: whome hee hathe iustified, them hee hathe gloryfyed. Why then, as witnesseth the Apostle, are the faythefull crowned? bycause by the Lordes mercye and