The Institution of Christian Religion

he thanketh God that put it in the heart of Titus, to take upon him to give exhortation. If Titus could not so much as use the office of his mouth to exhort other, but only so far as God did put it unto him, how should other have been willing to do, unless God him self had directed their hearts?

he thanketh God that put it in the hearte of Titus, to take vpon hym to geue exhortacion. If Titus coulde not so muche as vse the office of his mouthe to exhorte other, but only so farre as God did put it vnto hym, howe shoulde other haue bene wyllynge to doe, vnlesse God hym selfe had directed their heartes?

The craftier sort of them do cavil at all these testimonies: because there is no impediment, but that we may join our own strengths, and God to help our weak endeavours. They bring also places out of the Prophets, where the effect of our conversion seemeth to be parted in half between God and us.¹ Turn ye to me, and I will turn to you. What manner of help the Lord bringeth us, we have above showed, and it is not needful here to repeat it. This one thing I would have granted me, that it is vainly gathered that there is required in us a power to fulfil the law, because God doth command the obedience of it: For as much as it is evident, that for the fulfilling of all the commandments of God, the grace of the lawgiver is both necessary for us and promised unto us. Thereby then it appeareth, that at least there is more required of us than we are able to pay.² And that saying of Jeremiah can not be wiped away with any cavillations: that the covenant of God made with the ancient people, was void, because it was only literal, and that it could no otherwise be stablished, than when the spirit cometh unto it, which frameth the hearts to obedience. Neither doth that saying, Turn ye to me, and I will turn unto you, favour their error. For there is meant, not that turning of God, wherewith he reneweth our hearts to repentance, but wherewith he by prosperity of things doth declare him self favourable and merciful: as by adversity he sometime showeth his displeasure. Where as therefore the people being vexed with many sorts of miseries and calamities, did complain that God was turned away from them: he answereth, that they shall not be destitute of his favour, if they return to uprightness of life, and to him self that is the pattern of righteousness: Therefore the place is wrongfully wrested, when it is drawn to this purpose, that the work of our conversion should