The Institution of Christian Religion

That shall more plainly be seen in rehearsing the three sorts of §8commandments which we touched before.¹ The Lord oftentimes commandeth both in the law and in the Prophets, that we be converted unto him.² But on the other side, the Prophet answereth, Convert me, Lord, and I shall be converted: for after that thou didst convert me, I repented &c. He commandeth us to circumcise the uncircumcised skin of our heart:³ and by Moses he declareth that this circumcision is done by his own hand. He each where requireth newness of heart, but in an other place he testifieth that it is given by himself. That which God promiseth (saith Augustine) we do not by free will or nature,⁴ but he himself doth it by grace. And this is the same note that he himself rehearseth in the v. place among the rules of Ticonius, that we well make difference between the law & the promises, or between the commandments & grace. Now let them go, that gather by the commandments whether man be able to do any thing toward obediences in such sort that they destroy the grace of God, by which the commandments them selves are fulfilled. The commandments of the second sort are simple, by which we are bidden to honour God, to serve & cleave unto his will, to keep his commandments to follow ⟨image 110⟩his doctrine. But there are innumerable places that do testify that it is his gift what so ever righteousness, holiness, godliness or purity may be had. Of the third sort was that exhortation of Paul and Barnabas to the faithful, which is rehearsed by Luke, that they should abide in the grace of God. But from whence that strength of constancy is to be had, the same Paul teacheth in an other place.⁵ That remaineth, sayeth he▪ brethren, be ye strong through the Lord. In an other place he forbiddeth us, that we do not grieve the spirit of God, wherewith we are sealed up unto the day of our redemption. But because the thing that he there requireth, could not be performed by men, therefore he wisheth it, to the Thessalonians,