The Institution of Christian Religion

Further they press us, saying, that exhortations are vainly §4taken in hand, that the use of admonitions is superfluous, that it is a fond thing to rebuke, if it be not in the power of the sinner to obey. When the like things in time paste were objected against Augustine, he was compelled to write the book of Corruption and grace: Where although he largely reipe them away, yet he bringeth his adversaries to this sum: O man, in the commandment learn what thou oughtest to do: in correction ⟨image 108⟩learn that by thine own fault thou haste it not: in prayer learn whence thou mayest receive that which thou wouldst have. Of the same argument in a manner is the book of the Spirit and Letter, where he teacheth that God measureth not the commandments of his law by the strength of man, but when he hath commanded that which is right, he freely giveth to his elect power to fulfil it. And this is no matter of long disputation. First we are not only in this cause, butte also Christ and all the Apostles. Now let the other look how they will get the mastery in striving, that match them selves with such adversaries.¹ Doth Christ, which testifieth that we can do nothing without him, any thing the less rebuke and chastise them, that without him did evil? Doth he less exhort every man to apply him self to good works? Howe severely doth Paul inveigh against the Corinthians for neglecting of charity?² and yet he prayeth for charity to be given to the same men from God. He testifieth in the Epistle to the Romans, that it is neither of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that hath mercy, and yet he ceaseth not afterward to admonish, to exhort and to rebuke. Why do they not therefore speak to the Lord, that he do not so lose his labour in requiring of men those things which he himself alone can give, and in punishing those things which are done for want of his grace? Why do they not admonish Paul to spare them,³ in whose power it is not to will or to run, butte in the mercy of God, going before them which now hath forsaken them?