The Institution of Christian Religion

Truly, if the Scripture did teach nothing ells, butte that the law is a rule of life where unto we ought to frame our endeavours, I would also without delay agree to their opinion: but whereas it doth diligently and plainly declare unto us the manifold use of the law: it is convenient rather to consider by that interpretation, what the law may do in man. For so much as concerneth this present cause: it teacheth that so soon as it hath appointed what we ought to do, the power to obey ⟨p. 30⟩cometh of the goodness of God, and therefore moveth us to prayer, whereby we may require to have it given us. If there were only the commandment and no promise, then were our strength to be tried whether they were sufficient to answer the commandment, but sith there are promises joined withal, which cry out, that not only our aide, but also all our whole power consisteth in the help of Gods grace, they do testify enough and more, that we are altogether unfit, much more insufficient to keep the law. Wherefore let this proportion of our strengths with the commandments of Gods law be no more enforced, as if the Lord had measured the rule of justice, which he purposed to give in his law, according to the rate of our weakness. Rather by his promises we ought to consider, how unready we are of our selves which in every behalf do so much need his grace. But who (say they) shall be persuaded that it is like to be true, that the Lord appointed his law to stocks and stones? Neither doth any man go about to persuade it. For the wicked are neither stocks nor stones, when being taught by the law that their lusts do strive against God, they are proved guilty by their own witness. Nor yet the godly, when being put in mind of their weakness, they flee unto grace. For which purpose serve these sayings of Augustine.¹ The Lord commandeth those things that we can not do, that we may know what we ought to ask of him. Great is the profit of the commandments, if so much be given to free will, that the grace of God be the more honoured. Faith obtaineth that which the law commandeth, yea the law therefore commandeth, that faith may obtain that which was commanded by the law:

Truelye, yf the Scrypture dyd teache nothynge ells, butte that the lawe ys a rule of lyfe where vnto wee oughte to frame oure endeuours, I woulde also wythoute delaye agree to theyr opinion: but whereas yt dothe dylygently and playnely declare vnto vs the manyfolde vse of the lawe: yt ys conueniente rather to consyder by that interpretation, what the lawe maye doe in manne. For so muche as concerneth thys presente cause: yt teacheth that so sone as yt hathe appoynted what wee oughte to dooe, the power to obeye